Where creative practice meets academic inquiry.
Dr Amy Elizabeth Watson is a lecturer, researcher, and visual artist whose work explores the intersection of constructed photography, imagination, and emotion. Her research investigates how contemporary photographic artists build imaginary worlds and evoke a sense of wonder through visual storytelling, drawing on frameworks from psychology, neuroscience, and aesthetics.
Her recent publication with Routledge contributes to the growing field of contemporary art photography, and imaginary worlds, examining how artists create immersive visual environments that invite both reflection and emotional response.
Through her teaching and writing, Amy bridges creative practice and critical inquiry, encouraging students and readers alike to see art not only as an image, but as an experience that shapes how we understand ourselves and the world around us.
Key Achievements
PhD in Contemporary Art Photography. Completed a doctorate exploring constructed photography, wonder, and world-building through interdisciplinary research in psychology, neuroscience, and aesthetics.
Lecturer in Design at SAE University College. Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students across photography, illustration, and visual arts, with a focus on creative practice and critical inquiry.
Published with Routledge. Contributing to international academic discourse through research on Contemporary Art Photography and Imaginary Worlds.
Published Illustrator. Illustrator of Guttabug and the River Treasure (2025), a children’s picture book written by English author Samantha Parry, published in the UK.
Professional Photographer. Working commercially and artistically in family, portrait, and fine art photography, capturing human connection and emotion through a cinematic lens.
Exhibited Artist. Featured in group and solo exhibitions showcasing conceptual photographic and illustration work exploring imagination, constructed realities, and narrative-driven visual storytelling.
Interdisciplinary Practitioner. Blending art, research, and education to examine how imagery shapes emotion, perception, and the way we experience the world.