Matthew Hyndman removes his clothes and stands on his head in some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes. The resulting photographs have an obvious appeal: a naked man, upside down and alone in a vast landscape has an idiosyncratic charm that is oddly humorous and perhaps profound.
We are numb to these epic vistas from their over-use in tourism campaigns and across social media. Put a bottom in the frame and we see the view anew all over again. Beyond Matthew and because of him, the landscape feels arresting in its majesty and magnitude. We marvel at the technical feat. We wonder about midges and passers-by.
For Matthew, his headstands are more than a dare or an attempt to garner influencer status – on the contrary, his nudity means he is all but black-listed from social media. Matthew formerly belonged to a devout religious order. In his early twenties he was on board a mission ship in South East Asia when he accidentally sent his WhatsApp conversation history with a man he had met online to his entire congregation back home. He left the boat and his church. His life as he had known it was upended.
With the wisdom of Friedrich Nietzsche (and Kelly Clarkson) what didn’t kill Matthew made him stronger. In the decade since his technology outed him, adrift at sea halfway around the globe, he has greeted life with a vim and vigour that defies and belies any shame or trauma. Today, he lives in Edinburgh with the man who met him off the boat. He co-founded the Ban Conversion Therapy group, raising awareness and lobbying the government against insidious practices that still exist to bully people into believing that homosexuality is a convertible lifestyle choice.
What value does craft have in daily life?
For me, craft brings real beauty and meaning into everyday life. I love being surrounded by handmade objects — things I see and use daily that spark genuine joy.
It’s the tiny imperfections that make them special: the little signs of the maker’s hand that show care, skill, and creativity. They’re more than just useful things, they encourage me to slow down and pay attention to the details. They give space for daily rituals that calm and centre, remind me to appreciate the now!
What does Scottishness mean to you?
Although I’m not Scottish, I come from a community in Northern Ireland where many people identify as Ulster Scots, so I’ve always felt a connection and appreciation for Scottishness. For me, Scottishness holds a deep and very personal value through Scotland’s rich, wild places. Swimming in lochs, climbing hills, and exploring remote glens have given me a profound sense of belonging and peace.
Scotland’s deep connection with nature really resonates with me. The landscape feels both raw and welcoming, a space where I can reflect, recharge, and feel awe. Scottishness, to me, is tied to this relationship with nature: a shared understanding of the value of wild places, the sense of freedom they offer, and the responsibility to protect them. In that way, it has become not o
