Matty Healy Portrait Shortlisted for 2026 British Photography Awards
A portrait of The 1975 frontman Matty Healy has been shortlisted for the 2026 British Photography Awards. The image, which captures a candid moment of the musician, has garnered significant attention for its atmospheric quality.
The 1975’s Matty Healy. Credit: Danny Lowe for NME
Newcastle-based photographer Neil Ferry, 56, captured the shot while Healy was rehearsing for his performance at the Sunday For Sammy charity show in Newcastle this past February. Ferry, who only began his photography journey at the age of 48, described the piece as his personal vision of a timeless portrait, utilizing light, tone, and texture to distance the image from standard publicity photography.
Reflecting on the brief encounter, Ferry noted that he had only a minute to secure the shot while Healy was in the midst of rehearsals. “I went in, he was really busy, lovely guy and he said, ‘Look, you know, I’m rehearsing, but I’ve got a couple of minutes before I go home’,” Ferry explained. He added that the musician’s visible weariness from long rehearsals actually enhanced the final result, providing a raw, authentic quality that he felt made the photograph stand out.
Ferry’s portrait is one of three images he has shortlisted for this year’s awards, with the winners scheduled to be announced on November 1. The Sunday For Sammy event, which hosted the rehearsal, was founded in 2000 to honor the late actor Sammy Johnson and continues to raise vital funds for creative talent in the North East of England.
Beyond the photography news, The 1975 continues to make headlines regarding their future musical output. Healy has confirmed that the band has been working on new material, with potential titles like ‘DOGS’ circulating among fans. Following their 2022 album Being Funny In A Foreign Language, the band remains in a period of creative development, with manager Jamie Oborne suggesting that the group is taking the necessary time to ensure their next project is extraordinary.
