Keith Harness (1970) was born in and attended schools in Cleethorpes, a small seaside town on the east coast of England. Who having worked on local markets, joined the British Army at the age of sixteen as a junior recruit, attending military training centres in Folkstone and Royston before on completion joining 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment (The Poachers), in Celle, Northern Germany in October 1987. Where he went on to serve operational tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Kuwait, and Bosnia. Before tragically sustaining a gunshot wound to the head whilst serving as part of a UN Peace keeping force in Bosnia. Medically evacuated to Queen Elizabeth Military hospital, Woolwich he underwent initial treatment and rehabilitation over a ten- month period learning to adapt to life with disability and carry out daily tasks, creating a routine that suited Keith and his young family before re-joining his Regiment in Germany. Where he was able to continue his rehabilitation locally, under the supervision of the military hospital in Rinteln, Germany.
Deemed medically unfit to continue his military career. Keith was medically discharged from the Army in February 1997. Almost three and a half years after sustaining a life changing injury and just two months after moving with his family back to his hometown in England.
Despite continued restrictions, affecting Keith’s mobility, sight, and cognitive skills, he went on to attend Grimsby College of Technology successfully completing information technology level 1 in Database, Spreadsheet, and word processing. Before returning three years later accompanied by his guide dog to successfully complete computer accounts level one.
Keith’s interest for photography grew after spending time in Brittany during 2004, taken in by the areas stunning coastline. Returning home, he took to self- teaching methods before going on to attend local evening and weekend courses from 2010 onwards concentrating on general digital photography practice, studio, and location portraiture. Throughout this time finding he was able to participate in photographic activates, whether these be in a studio environment or on location regardless of his disabilities. With this his interest in photography grew to the extent that he began to take his attraction to photography seriously. Successfully completing a professional photography diploma in 2013 with The Photography Institute, London. Having found home study and distance learning suited his disabilities and lifestyle, with the flexible approach suiting his abilities and ongoing treatment schedule, he enrolled with the Open College of the arts in 2014 and as a post- graduate student began to study towards a BA (Hons) degree in photography, which he continues today.
2014- to date- Open College of the arts
2013- The Photography Institute, London
2000- Grimsby College of Technology
1997-Grimsby College of Technology
1994- Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital (Woolwich)
1987- 1997 British Army (2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment)
Exhibitions
Tight modern 2016 visiting;
Aspex Gallery Portsmouth
Jubilee Library, Brighton
Redbridge Library, Ilford
St Helens Library, St Helens
2020 to present – Reha 360, Celle, Germany.
2018 to present- Kanzlei legal offices Celle, Germany.
Nature's Embrace 