About Stuart.

Stuart Douglas was one half of photographic duo The Douglas Brothers, who’s work during the 80’s and 90’s blurred the boundaries between art and commercial work, advertising and editorial, fashion and illustration. Their subjects were the glitterati & literati of the day such as: Daniel Day-Lewis, Susan Sontag, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Giorgio Armani, Tilda Swinton, Richard Gere, Tim Roth, Steven Soderbergh, Queen Latifah, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Chrissie Hynde, and Salman Rushdie. The duo’s work has recently been given its own space in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

A stills campaign for Adidas led Stuart to a series of stings and commercials including the award-winning “Naseem” and other spots featuring Muhammad Ali and David Beckham. A succession of epic commercials for Coca-Cola, British Airways, Sony & Airbus cemented Stuart’s reputation as a leading international commercials director. In 2008 Stuart co-wrote & directed, Johnny X, a ground-breaking nine-part web-based action drama set in Bangkok, promoting Sony Ericsson’s Xperia brand. Regularly featured in major awards, many of his commercials have received accolades. ‘Kill your Speed’ for the road safety body DETR gained a silver arrow from the BTAA as did ‘Fatigue’ for the same client. The former also won gold at New York’s One Show. More recently awarded work includes the brand launch for the Jeep, Carlsberg, Guinness – which won ICAD Gold awards for direction & cinematography & silver and Gold Sharks at Kinsale for direction and cinematography respectively.

Other work includes successful campaigns for Waitrose, RBS, Bank of Ireland, BBC, ITV and Sainsbury’s, Nike, Johnnie Walker, Ballantine’s, UBS, Pepsi, McDonalds, Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes Benz, Saab, Lexus, Land Rover, Kia, Seat and Jeep. The latter of which, “Never Adapt”, winning New York Festival’s World’s Best Television & Film Bronze World Medal, with Stuart again making the Cannes Lion Shortlist for 2012. His recent charity film for ‘Change Please’ picked up a Silver Lion at Cannes Lions 2016 and a D&AD Pencil.

Describing his work as ‘photographic and people orientated’. Unsurprising given his background. He also tends to rely on capturing natural emotion and subtle performance, often utilizing real people rather than actors. Stuart usually acts as director & DOP on his own projects and his constantly innovative photography, much imitated in some of its more distinctive incarnations, continues to evolve. Clients commonly return for Stuart’s skills, confirming his reputation is an extremely experienced and pleasant director to work with. His photography, much respected and imitated, continues to evolve. “The best job in the world” is how father of four Douglas describes his role as director. “I get to visit fantastic places and people, and, for a short period I’m immersed in their culture. It teaches you to respect others, their ways and beliefs. But, also, to appreciate what we have at home.”