The Advisory Team

Robin Gillanders [Chair]

A former Reader in Photography and Hon. Fellow at Edinburgh Napier University, Robin is a practicing photographic artist who has exhibited internationally. In the 1990’s he made several collaborative works with the poet Ian Hamilton Finlay, culminating in his exhibition and book ‘Little Sparta: Portrait of a Garden’ (1998). Recent solo publications include The Photographic Portrait (2004), The Philosopher’s Garden (2004) and Highland Journey: In the Spirit of Edwin Muir (2009). 

Sam Sills

A commercial photographer, Sam has worked in the industry for over 10 years. In that time she has shot for a wide variety of clients from Marks and Spencer to Irn Bru and has had her worked published in magazines including GQ and Esquire. In 2010 she worked in conjunction with Historic Scotland to produce the Building Scotland book, which received critical acclaim in the press. 

Trish Todd

Trish graduated from Belfast College of Art with a BA Hons in Interior Design. Together with her husband Barrie they founded the architectural practice known as Todd Architects of which she was a director, company secretary and lead interior design consultant. With her influence and backing Todd Architects expanded from its base in Belfast, establishing offices in London and Dublin employing over eighty architects and designers. Trish Todd is Jill’s mum.

Frank McElhinney

Frank, who left a professional career to read Fine Art Photography at Glasgow School of Art from where he graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in 2014, is an artist who mainly photographs landscapes. His work deals with history and its uses. 

This philosophical approach is very evident in his 2014 Jill Todd Photographic Award submission where he addressed the pre-set theme “Flow” through the medium of aerial photography tracing the River Forth from its source to the North Sea. 

Frank won 1st prize for this innovative and superb body of work.

JTFA Partners

Ben Harman

Ben is Director of Stills: centre for photography, an exhibition space and production facility based in the centre of Edinburgh. Stills provides opportunity and support for the discovery, enjoyment and understanding of photography. Before starting at Stills in 2014, Ben was Curator of Contemporary Art for Glasgow Museums and Lead Curator on Glasgow’s Art Fund International collecting project.

Malcolm Dickson

Malcolm is the Director of Street Level Photoworks in Glasgow, a gallery and education resource which embraces different genres of photography from photographic artists locally, nationally and internationally. He coordinates an inclusive and diverse programme and has curated many of its solo shows, as well as projects elsewhere. Recent writing includes an essay in the book ‘Growing Up in the New Age – Marjolaine Ryley’ (Daylight, USA, March 2013) and a chapter in the book ‘Rewind: British Artists’ Video in the 1970s & 1980s’ (John Libbey Publishing, Sept 2012). He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Dundee University.