Remembering Martin Parr: Britain's 'national photographer' in words and pictures by his publisher

History is littered with tales of people who found fame and fortune after their talents were more celebrated outside of their home country. Martin Parr's story follows that trail but, much like his work, there's a funny twist in him being widely recognised as 'Britain's national photographer'.

Parr's photos were first lauded in France in the 1970s and across Europe which laid the foundation for his international career and subsequent success.

He established his reputation in the 1980s with a series of pictures from Britain's seaside resorts. Through his extremely energetic and explosive use of colour, he brought beauty to what was otherwise mundane.

Black and white beginnings

Parr worked extensively in Europe with Italy's Damiani Books, publishing four collections of his work. The firm's CEO Silvia Pesci spoke to Euronews Culture about their partnership and has selected some of her most memorable shots.

It's perhaps hard now for some to imagine, but back in the 70s colour was widely criticised as only being good for commercials and looked down upon for serious artistic endeavours.

In 2019 Damiani books published “From the Pope to a Flat White” the iconic/ironic book that covers many of the most significant moments in Ireland’s recent history including the visit of the Pope in 1979.

Documenting the documentarist

Italy's Damiani Books published four complete works of Parr and its founder Andrea Albertini, who died in 2019, collaborated closely with him alongside Editorial Director Eleonara Pesqui.

Parr and Albertini first met at Photo London in 2016 to discuss plans to publish “Think of Scotland” a series of photographs taken by Parr over 25 years in Scotland.

From the streets of Glasgow to an island agricultural show in Orkney.

Fiction and reality

Parr once said tourism, as the world's biggest industry, was a recurring theme in his work as sought to show the contrast between reality and the ideal pictures of places we have in our minds.

"Working with Martin was amazing and fun, his “English humour fitted perfectly with Albertini’s way of looking at the world, so it was natural for the two to create more projects together. “Beach Therapy” in 2018 was a large success and sold out very quickly and was accompanied by a show in Bologna."

As the publisher of Toilet paper magazine, Damiani Books encouraged and promoted a lasting relationship with Martin which gave birth to beautiful and funny projects like Toilet Martin Paper Parr Magazines, Calendars and Limited Editions.

"I mean he was THE PHOTOGRAPHER, but he didn’t behave like a star, he was always present, available and moreover never asked the impossible, he knew how the publishing machine works."

"As per my experience, every person who approached and worked with Martin at Damiani Books or Toliet Paper never wanted to leave him, owing to his transparent, funny and very sincere mood and way of behaving."