Syd Shelton

Having studied fine art in Yorkshire, Syd Shelton began his photography practice in the early 1970s, following a move to Australia. In Sydney, he worked as a freelance photojournalist for a number of newspapers and in 1975 had his first solo exhibition of his photographs, Working Class Heroes at the Sydney Film-makers Cooperative.

In 1976, Shelton returned to London and established the design and photography partnership Hot Pink Heart/Red Wedge Graphics which evolved into the current agency Graphicsi. Syd became one of the key activists in the Rock against Racism movement, and was the photographer and one of the designers of the Rock Against Racism magazine Temporary hoarding published between 1976 to 1981.

He co-edited and was art director of a series of photographic books that includes the awardwinning Day in the Life of London, and Ireland: A Week in the Life of a Nation. His work has been widely published and is in numerous collections including the V&A, Tate, The Photographers’ Gallery, The Istrian Museum of Contemporary Art, Rockarchive, Eric Frank Fine Art and Autograph ABP. 

Shelton's photographs from the 1970s are featured in the touring exhibition Syd Shelton: Rock Against Racism and the accompanying monograph.