The British photography world is in mourning following the death of Martin Parr, the iconic visual chronicler of the nation's quirks and social rituals. He passed away at the age of 73 at his home in Bristol on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
A Legacy of Colour and Quirk
An announcement on the Martin Parr Foundation's Instagram confirmed the sad news, stating the photographer died 'yesterday at home in Bristol'. The post extended condolences to his family, including his wife Susie, daughter Ellen, sister Vivien, and grandson George, and requested privacy for them during this time.
Parr became a household name by turning his lens on the eccentricities of ordinary British life. He rose to prominence in the 1980s with his seminal series, 'The Last Resort', a bold and colourful study of the Merseyside seaside town of New Brighton. This work cemented his role as a leading figure in the British New Colour Documentary movement, where he used saturated colour and a sharp, ironic eye to transform the mundane into compelling art.
From Birdwatching to Beachscapes
Parr's fascination with the British seaside was a lifelong passion. In a 2019 interview with Metro, he revealed its origins. 'I come from a family of bird watchers so we didn't get seaside resorts, we went to marshes and creeks and estuaries – so I was immediately hooked,' he said.
He described visiting Brighton as a child and later Blackpool while studying at Manchester Polytechnic, calling himself 'addicted to beaches' both in the UK and worldwide. His favourite UK resort was Tenby in Wales, a place he loved so much he bought a flat with a sea view. 'I could just sit and watch the sea, it's better than watching the TV,' he remarked.
Preserving a Unique Vision
Parr's work extended far beyond coastal scenes. His 2019 exhibition, 'Only Human: Martin Parr' at the National Portrait Gallery in London, captured the fractious social climate in the aftermath of the June 2016 EU referendum. His contributions to photography were formally recognised when he was made a CBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to the art form.
The statement from his foundation confirmed that The Martin Parr Foundation and Magnum Photos will now collaborate to preserve and share his vast photographic legacy, with more details to be announced in due course. The foundation's simple tribute concluded: 'Martin will be greatly missed.'
