Rapidly earning a reputation for itself as a unique space within which to exhibit an eclectic range of art works, on 1 December at 5.30pm Cookie, the award-winning bistro in Glasgow’s southside, will launch ‘Creative People’, a month-long photography exhibition by portrait photographer Paul Harkin.

The exhibition comprises a series of 20 images of writers, musicians, actors and philosophers, with subjects including authors Jason Donald, Ewan Morrison, Elizabeth Reader and Beatrice Colin as well as musicians Zoey van Goey and members of Glasgow-based choir the Parsonage.

Cookie co-founder Domenico Del Priore said: “Having hosted a series of fine art shows over recent months, ‘Creative People’ represents Cookie’s first foray into photography. The majority of Paul’s images are studio based or use artificial lighting, which structures the mood. They draw on the traditions of the painter rather than the photographer, where the artist creates a likeness in collaboration with his sitter.

“In this sense they negate photography’s advantage of capturing a fleeting moment. The removal of this only goes to reinforce photography’s dilemma of seemingly representing reality, though never quite being capable of it.

“Each sitter is presented literally under a spotlight. In doing so these photographs beg the questions: do they say something more about the sitter or the photographer? Is this technique a more accurate likeness of the person? What can you understand of the nature of the person in the photograph? These questions in themselves make Paul’s work an interesting show to be seen over Christmas at Cookie.”

Paul Harkin is a Glasgow-based photographer whose images have been used in magazines and on book jackets. ‘Creative People’ was immediately preceded at Cookie by ‘International Satellite’, an exhibition pulling together artists from all over the world from the ‘Low Brow’ genre, curated by Recoat Gallery.

Recently named Glasgow Newcomer of the Year 2010 for breaking the mould of local eating and drinking, Cookie is based at 72 Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow. For further information about Cookie and future events log on to www.cookiescotland.com or check it out on Facebook.