Biographical Information
Simon Townsley ~ [b.1963] New Zealand
Townsley was Senior Photographer at the Sunday Times in London for 14 years. He covered conflicts around the world, including the Balkans, West Africa, the Middle East and Asia and photographed numerous major news events such as Tiananmen Square, the Gulf war, fall of the Berlin Wall, siege of Sarajevo and the election of Nelson Mandela. He has twice been the recipient of the British Press Photographer of the Year Award. In 2002 he embarked on a personal project - OILMAN - in which he explored industrial landscapes in over 20 countries, documenting the pursuit and extraction of oil across the planet. The images were shot in large-format and displayed as grand-scale prints reflecting the tremendous scope of oil and gas projects and their impact on the natural world. More recently Townsley has been focusing on global health issues, photographing the people behind the numbers, their vulnerability and their powerlessness. Simon is known for his ability to connect with people and convey their story with dignity, even in extreme contexts. He was named Photo Journalist of the Year at the Society of Editors’ Media Freedom Awards (MFA) in 2023.

For more biographical information and examples of work see artist's website at Simon Townsley; see 2023 article at The Telegraph

Historical Results for this Artist