In this week's episode of Keeping Watch, Ed and Mel discuss a lighthouse Banksy in Marseilles, before Mel interviews Scottish photographer Conor Gault, who is on a mission to photograph every living Scottish lighthouse keeper and the lighthouses where they served.

Conor's heartfelt project is rooted in his family history, his Grandfather having served as a keeper himself. He talks about the artistic process of capturing his images on large-format film, and the emotional stories behind the photos. 

You can see Conor's photographs and find out more about the project at his website: https://www.conorgault.com

Key moments

01:05 Interview with Conor Gault  01:41 Banksy's Lighthouse Artwork 06:18 Conor Gault's Photography Journey 07:35 The Lighthouse Project 12:48 Memories and Portraits 19:20 Tributes and Future Plans 22:49 Heartwarming Farewell Stories 24:14 Lighthouse Conditions and Photography 25:55 Visiting Lighthouses with Keepers 27:42 Connecting with Lighthouse Keepers 29:11 The Future of the Lighthouse Project 30:35 Making Art Accessible to Communities 33:19 Expanding the Project Beyond Scotland 39:17 Challenges and Funding 42:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

KEEPING WATCH is a fortnightly podcast for enthusiasts of lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessels and other aids to maritime navigation. 

We’re keen to talk with other former light vessel and lighthouse keepers and crew - as well as others currently working in the lighthouse service. Again, you can email me at [email protected]. 

Please spread the word to friends and family who might be interested in listening. And do like, follow or subscribe to this podcast so that you are notified when each new episode is published. A comment or a splendid review on your podcast platform of choice would be very welcome and really helps us to get noticed. 

If you have an idea for a story you'd like us to cover, or an interesting person with a lighthouse connection we might interview, do please drop me a line. Or perhaps you are a fellow enthusiast and would like to contribute to the podcast either once or on a regular basis?

You can contact me at [email protected]. 

KEEPING WATCH is brought to you in association with the ALK - The Association of Lighthouse Keepers - a charitable trust in the UK dedicated to keeping lighthouse heritage alive. 

Visit the Association of Lighthouse Keepers: www.alk.org.uk