Carol Scott, Photographer
MY STORYCarol Scott, a British photographer, spent nearly a decade in America, from 1976 to 1985, capturing the essence of rock and roll culture with a raw, energetic style.
Scott’s journey into photography began with a leap of faith when she purchased her first camera—a 35mm Nikkormat—while in Nashville, Tennessee. Soon after, she moved to Berkeley, California, a place alive with creativity and counterculture, and began raising her daughter as a single parent.
In Berkeley, Scott met the acclaimed photographer Richard Blair, whose mentorship was pivotal. Blair taught her both the technical and creative aspects of photography, including the ingenuity of building a darkroom in a small closet. From that moment on, Scott was unstoppable. Her commitment to the art form was defined by resilience and a desire to capture the world around her with unrelenting honesty.
Scott’s photographic style is marked by a unique blend of grit and grace, creating images that are both visually striking and deeply human. Over the years, she amassed an impressive collection of unseen photographs, capturing intimate and electrifying moments that only a true insider could.
For more than four decades, Scott kept this collection private, preserving images that remained hidden treasures—until now. This remarkable body of work was recently exhibited for the first time at the Sausalito Center for the Arts, along side the artwork of Jerry Garcia, offering the public a rare glimpse into her lens on music history.
John Lee Hooker & Cameron Scott, At home, Los Altos, CA, circa 1982
Keith Richards, Rolling Stones Concert, Oakland Coliseum, CA, July 1978
During the pandemic, Scott’s daughter Cameron encouraged her mother to revisit her archives. The two spent countless hours poring over negatives and slides, listening to a playlist featuring the same artists Scott had photographed, letting the music and memories guide their selections. This process of rediscovery brought Scott back to the intensity and spirit of her past work, reigniting her passion and providing new insights into her own artistic legacy.
Scott’s work is celebrated not just for its technical prowess, but for the authenticity and electric energy that define it. Her photographs are more than mere portraits; they are windows into a powerful cultural era, capturing the charisma and rawness of rock icons at their peak.
Through her lens, Scott immortalized both the artists’ personas and the rebellious spirit that shaped a generation. Her images remain timeless, evoking a music scene that, though past, continues to inspire and resonate.
Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, Berkeley, CA, June 1980
In Celebration of Jerry Garcia
In honor of Jerry Garcia’s Birthday an exhibit unfolds with works & photographs never seen before by the public.
Scott’s photos of not just Garcia but dozens of music legends were featured as part of an expansive collection of art and memorabilia, all to celebrate the iconic individual that was Jerry Garcia & ‘The Grateful Dead.’