Edwin Smith: Ordinary Beauty: the photography of Edwin Smith, Architecture Gallery, RIBA

Trained architect turned photographer, Edwin Smith’s body of work is an ode to craftsmanship and community in post-war Britain - a deliberate rejection of the glamour of the city so revered by his modernist counterparts. 

There is an undeniable charm to the 100-strong collection of his photographs showing at RIBA’s new Architecture Gallery on Portland Place. Smith’s lens documents daily life with an unswerving commitment to the ordinary, with candid black and white shots of fish and chip shops, atmospheric landscapes and church interiors which are both understated and reverential. 

This retrospective is designed to put Edwin smith back on the map, displaying his equipment and published work alongside his photographs to give an intriguing glimpse into his creative process. Rounding out the display, video clips of figures like Alan Bennett and broadcaster Gillian Darley offer entertaining and insightful personal responses to his work.