Photographer, Videographer & Digital Artist

Derry Ainsworth is a British born, Hong Kong based award winning photographer, videographer, and digital artist. With over 12 years of experience documenting the vibrant energy of Hong Kong, his work masterfully captures the intricate geometry, hidden perspectives, and dynamic culture of the city. Holding a deep and unwavering commitment to his craft, his photography is renowned for establishing a profound "sense of place," inviting viewers to experience urban landscapes through an entirely new lens.
 

Architectural Foundation & Visual Style

Originally from the United Kingdom, Derry relocated to Hong Kong in 2014. He holds a degree in architecture and spent two years working within the architectural sector in Hong Kong before pursuing visual storytelling full time. This technical foundation heavily influences his signature aesthetic. By utilizing tight geometric framing and an acute understanding of spatial dynamics, he transforms high density concrete jungles into canvases of modern, abstract art.
 

What Sets His Work Apart

What truly sets Derry apart from his competition is his unique vision and keen eye for perspective. By combining his diverse expertise across different fields of photography with his formal background in architecture, Derry is able to discover new angles and distinct viewpoints unlike any other photographer in the region. He intuitively understands how to use the curves of structural architecture and urban geometry to beautifully frame a distant skyline or a hidden street. This unparalleled ability to redefine spatial dynamics is exactly why clients continue to seek out his approach, relying on his distinct vision to bring fresh, striking visuals to their projects and brands.
 

A Specialist in Commercial Content

Over the past 12 years, Derry has built a diverse portfolio that spans a huge variety of photography and videography fields. His expertise includes urban landscape, nature, event videography, street photography, and travel. Crucially, he has spent years working in house for premier content and event agencies. This extensive corporate and agency background has made him a highly sought after specialist in commercial content, enabling him to deliver polished, high impact campaigns for major brands, hospitality groups, and international events.
 

Extensive Client Work Celebrating Hong Kong

Derry has been tapped for extensive client campaigns and editorial assignments dedicated to celebrating the unique beauty and culture of Hong Kong. His notable collaborations include projects with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), where he captured the striking aesthetics of the West Kowloon neighbourhood to promote the city to international audiences. His visual storytelling has also been commissioned by premier global publications and lifestyle brands, including Travel + Leisure, The Straits Times, and The Telegraph. Furthermore, he has partnered with the Hong Kong Palace Museum and West Kowloon Cultural District to create digital exhibition content.

 

Notable Events & High Profile Clients

Derry has served as the official photographer and videographer for some of the most prestigious events and festivals across the region. He is widely recognized for his work capturing major international music and sports festivals, operating as an official photographer for Clockenflap, Sónar Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, and Quest Festival. Beyond large scale festivals, his premium event coverage spans high society galas, corporate summits, government events, and cultural exhibitions. Notable projects include shooting the Tatler Ball in both Singapore and Macao, capturing the Tatler XFest Gallery featuring global icons like David Beckham and Lionel Messi, and documenting the construction of Art Basel Hong Kong for Expomobilia. He has also produced extensive video content for brands such as Louis Vuitton, for the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) across Tokyo and Shanghai, and covered major corporate events such as the Moody's Asia Emerging Markets Summit.

 

Solo and Group Exhibitions

A central figure in the contemporary art community, Derry has participated in over 20 notable fine art exhibitions, expertly bridging the gap between traditional print and digital native mediums. His extensive exhibition history features both prominent solo showcases and collaborative group events:

 

• Pieces of Hong Kong (2026): Derry curated this highly successful group photography exhibition at the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong, championing six prominent local photographers and capturing the soul of the city.
   

• Colours of Hope (2025): He contributed his art to the Children of the Mekong Charity group Exhibition.
   

• The Ways in Patterns (2025): He partnered with the Hong Kong Palace Museum and West Kowloon Cultural District to create compelling digital exhibition content.
   

• Collected Memories (2023): This acclaimed exhibition was held with Awethentic Studios at Soho House Hong Kong.
   

• M+ Museum Facade Projection (2022): Commissioned by Samsung and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, his celebrated Collected Memories multi medium series was projected directly onto the iconic M+ Museum facade.
   

• Sotheby's Spring Contemporary Auction (2022): His work Collected Memories 007 was successfully auctioned during the Spring contemporary online sales.
   

• Digital Art Fair Asia (2021): Serving as Creative Director, he managed, designed, and curated the inaugural event, while also participating as a featured artist.
   

• Life Through a Lens (2020): His immersive solo showcase pushed artistic boundaries.
   

• Bamboo Scenes X Home Kong (2019): Participated in this collaborative art showcase.
   

Pioneering Digital Art in Hong Kong

Bridging the gap between traditional photography and future technologies, Derry is a true pioneer in the Hong Kong digital art space. In 2021, he served as the Creative Director for the inaugural Digital Art Fair Asia. In this role, he managed, designed, and curated a groundbreaking event that moved away from traditional white cube settings to showcase immersive, futuristic, and new digital mediums. He continues to participate as a featured NFT and digital artist, utilising advanced AI tools and digital artistry to push the medium forward.
 

Over 100 International Awards

Derry's distinctive approach to capturing the built environment has earned him over 100 international photography awards. His ability to find striking perspectives and atmospheric street scenes has dominated the global photography circuit. Some of his most prominent accolades include:
 

• Global Photography Awards (2026): Named Global Architecture Photographer of the Year and Global Nature Photographer of the Year, securing a historic 49 individual awards for series like "Hong Kong Modern Mosaics".
   

• European Photography Awards (2026): Named Architecture Photographer of the Year (Professional) and won 12 awards for his acclaimed architectural series.
   

• MUSE Photography Awards (2026): Claimed the title of Architecture Photographer of the Year.
   

• New York Photography Awards (2025): Won 2 Gold Awards.
   

• Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) (2025): Won the Silver Award for his photograph "Containment".
   

• Life Framer (2025): Awarded 1st Place in the "Cities" competition.
   

• My China Story International Media Competition (2023): Won an award for his photograph "Legoland".
   

Prominent Features & Press Recognition

Derry's visual artistry has been celebrated across a multitude of prestigious media outlets, including CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Vogue, South China Morning Post (SCMP), Time Out, Tatler, and The Straits Times.

Critics and publications have consistently praised his ability to redefine urban photography. National Geographic Traveller famously hailed his work as a "love letter to Hong Kong". International art platforms have noted that he "draws inspiration from the vibrant culture, the diverse people, and the dynamic events," allowing him to "celebrate the ever evolving narrative of Hong Kong through his lens". Furthermore, Arlevard praised his work for finding extreme geometric symmetry and rhythm in the city, transforming chaotic streets into abstract beauty.

 

"Highs & Lows" Photobook

A crowning achievement of his career to date is the publication of his acclaimed photobook, "Highs & Lows: Unique Hong Kong Perspectives" (俯仰之間). This 190 page hardcover volume documents an 11 year visual journey from 2014 to 2025. The book masterfully contrasts grand cityscapes (the "highs") with atmospheric, human centric street scenes (the "lows"), serving as a vital visual archive of a rapidly changing city. The reception was overwhelming: the first edition sold out entirely within a month of its November 2025 release, prompting a highly sought after second edition in April 2026.

 

Today, Derry Ainsworth remains dedicated to finding unexpected moments of beauty within the shifting fabric of the cities he explores. His unwavering commitment to documenting Hong Kong is ongoing, as he continues to create unparalleled work that defines the essence and spirit of the region.