Derry Ainsworth is an award-winning British photographer, videographer, and digital artist based in Hong Kong. Holding a degree in architecture, Derry relocated from the UK to Hong Kong in 2014. After working in the architectural sector for two years, he drew profound visual inspiration from the city's dense urban environments, ultimately leaving his corporate career to pursue a full-time passion for visual storytelling.
 

As a self-taught practitioner across multiple disciplines of photography, videography, and digital art, Derry has spent over 12 years documenting the evolving narrative of Hong Kong. His distinct architectural lens, spatial awareness, and commitment to capturing the soul of urban landscapes have earned him widespread international acclaim, prominent gallery representation, and collaborations with major global brands.

 

Notable Accolades & Competitions
 

Derry’s creative imagery - characterised by striking top-down drone perspectives, tight urban geometries, and atmospheric street captures - has been recognised by prestigious international photography bodies.

• Architecture Photographer of the Year (2026) – MUSE Photography Awards

• 1st Place Winner (2025) – Life Framer "Cities" Competition (for the work 'Containment')

• Double Gold Winner (2025) – New York Photography Awards (Fine Art - Drone for 'Concrete Horizons'; Architecture - Drone for 'Containment')

• Silver Award (2025) – Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) (Architecture - Drone for 'Containment')

• 3rd Place (2025) – World Street Photo Awards (for 'Black Rainstorm') and Chromatic Photography Awards(Cityscape)

• Outstanding Award (2023) – “My China Story of the Greater Bay Area” International New Media Competition(for 'Legoland')

• Finalist & Merit Honors – LCE Photographer of the Year 2026, Photography Foundation Awards 2025, and Annual Photography Awards 2025.
  
   

Curation & Digital Art Pioneering
 

Beyond behind-the-lens production, Derry has established himself as a prominent figure and pioneer in the digital fine art and curatorial space in Hong Kong:

• Affordable Art Fair (2026): Curated the high-profile group photography showcase 'Pieces of Hong Kong', collaborating with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to guide audiences through local viewpoints across Wan Chai, Central, and Tsim Sha Tsui.

• Digital Art Fair Asia (2021): Served as Creative Director for the pioneer digital art event, responsible for the overarching design, management, and curation of the landmark exhibition, while also participating as a featured artist.

• Industry Judging: Invited as an expert panel judge for high-level creative events, including the Henderson Land 'Realising Your Imagination Competition' (2023).
  
   

Solo & Group Exhibitions
 

Derry has participated in more than 20 notable fine art exhibitions, bridging the gap between traditional print and digital-native mediums:

• Pieces of Hong Kong (2026) – Group Show / Curator, Affordable Art Fair, HK

• The Ways in Patterns (2025) – Digital Exhibition Content Collaboration, Hong Kong Palace Museum & West Kowloon Cultural District

• Colours of Hope (2025) – Children of the Mekong Charity Exhibition

• Collected Memories (2023) – Solo Exhibition with Awethentic Studios, Soho House Hong Kong

• Sotheby’s Spring Contemporary Auction (2022) – His acclaimed work 'COLLECTED MEMORIES 007' was successfully matching public demand at auction during the Spring contemporary online sales.

• M+ Museum Facade (2022) – The celebrated 'COLLECTED MEMORIES' multi-medium series, commissioned by Samsung and the HK Tourism Board, was projected onto the iconic M+ Museum facade.
  
   

Global Press & Media
 

Derry’s perspective on urban topographies has captured the attention of world-class publishing houses and broadcasting networks:

• Editorial Commissions: Commissioned as a feature photographer by National Geographic Traveler for the major editorial profile ‘City Life - Hong Kong’ (2024/2025), and featured in National Geographic Traveler UK(2026) showcasing his "Love Letter to Hong Kong" book Highs & Lows.

• Cover Imagery: His piece 'Open Shop' was selected as the formal cover image for the New England Reviewpublication (2025).

• Featured Publications: Bloomberg, CNN, Vogue, Forbes, TimeOut, The Telegraph, South China Morning Post (SCMP), and All About Photo.

• Broadcast & Radio Media: Featured on-air guest appearances on TV channels ViuTV and Fantastic TV, as well as regular cultural and arts commentary on RTHK Radio 3 (CultureZine).
   

Commercial Portfolio & Educational Initiatives
 

Commercially, Derry delivers specialized event photography, drone cinematography, and high-end video documentaries across the Asia-Pacific region. His brand portfolio spans luxury, corporate, hospitality, and institutional clients including:

• Luxury & Events: Media production for the Tatler Ball Singapore (2025), Tatler Ball Macao (2023), Tatler XFest (featuring David Beckham and Lionel Messi), and the World’s 50 Best Bars events.

• Corporate & Architecture: Creative partnerships with WSP Asia, Moody's (Asia Emerging Markets Summit), and commercial visual campaigns for Deliveroo and Expomobilia (building Art Basel HK).

• Documentary Videography: Multi-year production of international academic video documentaries for the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) Summer Programs across Tokyo, Shanghai, and Taipei.

• Education & Masterclasses: Committed to nurturing the next generation of visual artists, Derry frequently leads professional photography masterclasses in tandem with the Hong Kong Palace Museum and SCMP Learn.
   

Day to day, Derry continues to explore urban landscapes camera-in-hand, dedicated to finding unexpected geometries, human moments, and hidden architectural symmetries within the vibrant, shifting fabric of Hong Kong.