Newsletter 01/26
Hello again
A belated Happy New Year and welcome to the first Offline Journal Newsletter of 2026.
Photography is slowly awakening from its late 2025 slumber here in Wales with new exhibitions and events coming up - some are covered below, but be sure to check though Offline's full EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS listings page for everything going on that I'm aware of.
Brian
(updated 19/1/26)
Farewell 2025. Onwards 2026.
As years go, 2025 had it's highs and lows in photography.
I'd describe the highs as the steady number of exhibitions and events across Wales covering a range of themes and styles to cater for most tastes.
The first low point was the loss of Sebastião Salgado (1944–2025) on 23 May. A former member of Magnum Photos over ten years, his incredible bodies of work made across the world documented global themes on humanity, labor, migration, and the natural world.
Next came news of the death of Chris Steele-Perkins (1947–2025) on 8 September. A fellow member of Magnum (a full member since 1983), he was a much-admired photojournalist known for his work documenting British culture through photobooks such as 'THE TEDS', 'THE TROUBLES', and 'SURVIVAL PROGRAMMES' (an important title created with fellow EXIT Photography Group members Paul Trevor and Nicholas Battye in 1982).
Then came the devastating news that Martin Parr (1952–2025) had died 6 December 2025. Another loss to Magnum Photos, Parr was a past-president of the international agency which he joined in 1994.
Although he was in big demand for photography assignments and events internationally, Martin Parr had a long association with Wales and, from a personal observation, was always generous in making time to talk, and very supportive of my efforts with both Ffoton Wales and Offline Journal in promoting Welsh photographers beyond the border. He'll be sadly missed my myself and many others in Wales.
Support the Martin Parr Foundation
Since opening its doors to the public in October 2017, the MARTIN PARR FOUNDATION (MPF) has rapidly built a reputation for being a premier destination for excellent photography guest talks and events, perhaps second only to London events (and maybe better in some cases). These events provide welcome (and valuable) opportunities for photographers from across the UK to meet, socialise and expand their network of contacts. And then there's the primary function of the Foundation: to house and maintain Parr's own archive of work, books and book dummies, in addition to a growing collection of British documentary photography prints and materials by other important photographers, including Chris Killip, Sian Davey, and an extensive archive of works donated by David Hurn.
With Martin Parr no longer with us, the MPF Trustees and talented team brought together by the photographer to run the day to day operations of his Foundation will now continue to plan and deliver an inspiring programme of exhibitions and events. You can support the efforts of the Foundation by becoming a Member and, in doing so, gain access to events, tours of the Foundation and access to the archive. Different Membership tiers are available to suit budgets.
You can listen again to Martin Parr speaking to the Ffoton Wales podcast about making work in Wales over 45 years. Recorded when an exhibition his prints were shown in National Museum Cardiff as 'Martin Parr in Wales' (2019-2020).
Listen to "Martin Parr" on Spreaker.SHEDS TALKS WEEKEND
To complement the new 'SHEDS AND OBJECTS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE' exhibition, which opened on Friday evening at Turner House Gallery in Penarth, Offline Journal is teaming up with the exhibiting artists and the gallery to present two consecutive afternoons of talks in early February to explore the theme of the SHED structure in architecture, photography, and the visual arts.
'SHEDS' brings together the work of Jon Poutney and Lee John Phillips, two artists united by a fascination with the hidden stories within everyday spaces and objects. Across Wales, sheds take countless forms, garden sheds, garages, outhouses, potting sheds. Each a small, mysterious world in its own right.
For Phillips, the shed is both archive and muse: a place of objects meticulously preserved, each with a history and a story to tell. Poutney, meanwhile, captures the people, places, and moments that surround these structures, revealing the life and communities they inhabit.
Together, their work transforms the humble shed into a lens for curiosity, creativity, and storytelling, inviting viewers to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and to see these familiar spaces with fresh eyes.
– Turner House website
(l-r) SHEDS exhibition in the ground floor and first floor galleries in Turner House.
Saturday 7 February will have Jon Pountney along with illustrator and designer Lee John Phillips talk on their work which features in their new joint SHEDS AND OBJECTS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE exhibition that is open now until 22 February 2026. Pountney has a new SHEDS zine, published to accompany the exhibition, available at just £5 per copy and remaining copies can be purchased at the event (cash only).
The following afternoon of Sunday 8 February, the gallery will host the third of Offline Journal's SIGNATURES events, with architecture academic Paul Davies introducing us to Shed history in architecture; photographer Pete Davis giving a deep dive into his iconic 'GREAT LITTLE TIN SHEDS OF WALES' series of images, exhibitions and catalogs; then photographer and academic Julie Cook will discuss her 'SOME LAS VEGAS STRIP CLUBS' photobook (yes, it too has a Shed connection!).
As with previous SIGNATURES events, I'd encourage photographers to bring along any of their own photozines should they wish to seek feedback from, or show them off to, other attendees. Similarly, photographers can contribute a copy of their self-published photozines to the expanding 'Box of Zines' collection from across Wales.
A shedload of fantastic conversation and imagery over two days not to be missed!
Links for free but limited tickets to both events will available on Jon's and Offline Journal's Instagram feeds in coming days.
SHEDS AND OBJECTS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE - Day 1
Jon Pountney and Lee John Phillips
2 - 4pm, Saturday 7 February 2026
The Turner House, Penarth, Cardiff CF64 3DH
www.turnerhouse.wales
SHEDS AND OBJECTS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE - Day 2
SIGNATURES #3 - Photobook Talks
Pete Davis, Paul Davies and Julie Cook
12.30 - 4pm, Sunday 8 February 2026
The Turner House, Penarth, Cardiff CF64 3DH
www.turnerhouse.wales
ANOTHER PLACE by Paul Cabuts
The new 'ANOTHER PLACE / STRUMBLE POLES' exhibition in Aberaeron's Gallery Gwyn. Images © Paul Cabuts
With his latest exhibition 'ANOTHER PLACE / STRUMBLE POLES' now on the walls at Gallery Gwyn in Aberaeron, Paul Cabuts' new book carrying the same title is now available direct from the photographer via his online store.
"Another Place presents photographs made without any apparent purpose - not part of some conscious schema. Taken in west Wales and Cornwall between 2013 and 2018, each photograph was an immediate response to a particular place at a particular time.
Brought together for the first time several years later, they reveal a story of place, dislocation and longing."
— Paul Cabuts
Reflecting on his STRUMBLE POLES series, Cabuts notes...
These three utility poles were photographed in response to a news article that outlined plans to bury overhead electricity cables at one of Pembrokeshire’s outstanding beauty spots. I already knew Strumble Head (Pen-caer) very well having walked its coast path for many years, most often travelling there by car and parking at the very location where the poles were situated.
I could not understand what the problem was with these poles, they looked lovely in that landscape - they were very much part of it. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority believed that the poles were having a negative impact on the ‘special qualities’ of this landscape. I did wonder if the money spent for this undertaking could be better used elsewhere, but there it was, they would eventually be removed.
These three photographs were exhibited at the 2014 National Eisteddfod at Llanelli. Soon after, Planet magazine published them alongside my essay 'Gone with the Wind: The Poles of Strumble Head' - I remain grateful to Planet and its editor Emily Trahair.
ANOTHER PLACE, priced £15.00 plus P&P, includes essays on the making of the photographs.
ANOTHER PLACE
by PAUL CABUTS
Published December 2025 by Tirnod Press
226 x 170 mm
60 pages / soft cover
Recycled silk stock, perfect binding
Edition of 50
ISBN 978-1-9163896-2-5
ANOTHER PLACE / STRUMBLE POLES
Paul Cabuts
6th December 2025 – 28th March 2026
Gallery Gwyn, Aberaeron SA46 0JB
Gallery Gwyn is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am-4pm
gallerygwyn.co.uk
ROB NORMAN - 'Stills Photographer of the Year'
(l-r) Nigel Farrage, Eluned Morgan, and Rhun ap lorwerth. Images © Rob Norman
Photographer Rob Norman was named winner of the 'Stills Photographer of the Year' category in the recent WALES MEDIA AWARDS 2025 held in Cardiff Bay on 16 January 2026.
Norman was the former-Head of Images for Media Wales, WalesOnline and titles such as the Western Mail, Wales on Sunday and South Wales Echo among others. He is a co-founder of HayMan Media.
Around 200 guests attended the awards ceremony at Cardiff’s Parkgate Hotel which showcased excellence in print, online and broadcast journalism in both English and Welsh.
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