“Son of a Beach and Other Stories”
by Nicholas Andrews - 22 July
Son of a Beach and Other Stories is a collection of images from Nicholas Andrews’ catalogue of personal and editorial work.
Son of a Beach is a narrative of the male form in the context of the coast, reflecting his adolescence growing up in Dorset, close to some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK.
"Sunburnt necks, salty bleach blonde hair, ice cream, the sun’s residual heat in our bodies. Romanticising the connection of skin, sea & sand, to burgeoning teenage desire.
“These pictures are memories, or recollections, recounted in a different world but with historic context.
The manifestation of adolescent longings, Echoes of a fantasy life.
We lived close to the beach, always living for the Summer.
Sunburnt necks, salty bleach blonde hair, ice cream, the sun’s residual heat in our bodies.
It’s a familiar landscape for me throughout my life, a place of comfort and safety.
Romanticising the connection of skin, sea & sand, to burgeoning teenage desire.
As I got older and braver, with freedom to explore Men,
nude in the dunes, stolen glances, ever hopeful of attention.
Anticipation, adulation, connection, rejection
Always looking, looking, looking.
Fear that something so beautiful was not meant for me, fear of discovery,
fear of myself and who I really was.
The beach no longer so innocent and yet still magnificent.
So, I reinterpret my past for you, the observer, and bring it to the present.
Recalculate the near misses and reevaluate my own power.
To see with my own eyes and know that my angst was not in vain.
That’s the beauty of photography, the ability to see.
An interpretation of a world as you want it to be.”
& Other Stories showcases editorial shoots & creative collaborations for publications in the UK and Abroad.
Nicholas Andrews (b.1972) is a British Photographer from Poole, Dorset. After graduating with a MA Distinction in Fashion Photography for UAL, Nicholas became a published fashion, beauty and entertainment photographer working commercially with well renowned brands including COS, eBay, H&M, Tinder, Three and Ugg. He has also been published in The Rakish Gent, Jon Magazine and the Perfect Man
Gallery 1885
16 Bowden Street
, SE11 4DS
Monday to Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
The exhibition is opening on 22 July 2024.
The Open View is on 25 July @ 7pm and everybody is welcome to come along.