John Byford...
Byford’s journey began in a London darkroom — a place that smelled of chemicals and mystery. Watching an image slowly appear in the tray felt like a small miracle, and those early moments set him on the path he still walks today. His teens and early twenties were rough: severe depression, hospital stays, long periods when the world felt heavier than it should. Art gave him something to hold on to — focus, purpose, a way of keeping his head above water when everything else threatened to slip away.
As he got older, he travelled extensively across Europe and beyond, almost always with a camera close by. He wasn’t just taking photographs; he was collecting moments — funny, difficult, tender, awkward and utterly ordinary. Life didn’t always play fair, but photography kept him moving, giving shape to the chaos.
> Brexit Box. John Byford. Bad Gandersheim - Germany 2019
Moving between darkrooms and digital studios sharpened his way of seeing. He learned to notice what others walk past — a glance held too long, a twitch of the mouth, a detail at the edge of the frame. These small, easily missed moments drive him. Travel taught him that getting lost is never wasted time. He wanders, follows instinct, and waits for a place to reveal something honest. He doesn’t chase perfection; he chases truth. Sometimes the work is rough around the edges, but that’s where the real beauty lives. A photograph shouldn’t just be looked at; it should land somewhere deeper.
Over time, his practice expanded beyond photography. He began curating and collecting, bringing together the work of others and recognising voices, histories and perspectives that deserved to be seen. Large outdoor installations followed, along with projects responding to history, place and global issues — work that crossed borders and gained international attention. His passion lies not only in making images, but in building conversations around them.
He believes that being an artist is, whether intended or not, a political act. Photography is his way of observing, documenting and questioning the world. People fire his imagination; quiet moments in nature keep him grounded. For years, he has photographed his adopted hometown of Skegness — its character, contradictions, humour and resilience, the stories hiding in plain sight. Even now, he feels he has only scratched the surface.
Being named an Honoured Citizen means a great deal to him. It reflects the connection he has built with the town and his long-term commitment to documenting its shifting landscape. His work is shaped by the life he has lived — and by the lives, stories and objects he continues to collect. The catalogue is still growing.
The verdict can wait as the best is yet to come.
I. Lohmann, Hannover.
John Byford is represented by:
I. Lohmann, Hannover, Germany. +49 159 04152587