Simon Bray is a Manchester-based artist, who develops projects exploring place, through photography, text and sound, investigating our connection to place and its influence on our personal identity.

Simon spent 2018 working with photographer Martin Parr, producing a new commission for Manchester Art Gallery.

Simon’s documentary project ‘Loved&Lost’ invites participants to explore their experience of loss through the re-staging of family photographs and audio interview. It has been featured on BBC Breakfast TV, BBC News, BBC Local Radio, The Guardian and Positive News. The Loved&Lost project will be showing at Weston Park Saturday 14 December 2019 - Sunday 8 March 2020. This is a unique chance to get a real insight into this project directly from the photographer and creator before it shows.

When we lose someone close to us the grief we experience can be overwhelming, and the absence of loved ones can feel even greater at this time of year.

The Loved&Lost project helps people engage with their loss and remember those who meant so much to them. Created by photographer Simon Bray after the death of his father, Loved&Lost invites people to find a family photograph, then return to the location to re-create it and record a conversation about the experience. The process offers them a way to acknowledge their loss, to share the stories of these precious moments and celebrate those who are no longer with us. The moving stories that Simon and the participants tell together challenge the taboo of talking about death, whilst offering us solace and a chance to reflect on our own memories of lost loved ones.

In 2017, Simon was one of 6 artists invited to undertake a fellowship with Manchester International Festival, working alongside Hong Kong-based artist Samson Young.

Simon collaborated with artist Tom Musgrove on landscapes project ‘The Edges Of These Isles’, supported by a 120-page self-published book sponsored by G.F SMITH and documentary film. It was featured by Outdoor Photography Magazine, Another Place Press, Oh Comely and YHA Magazine.

He has undertaken editorial commissions for publications such as The Telegraph Magazine, The Wire, Pasture, Lodestars Anthology and Rakesprogress. He was also one of 60 Manchester-based artists invited to make new work for the publication ‘This Is The Place : Choose Love’, by Tony Walsh & Friends, a book commemorating those lost after the Manchester bombing. He works with Shillington College, enabling students to photograph and produce their design portfolios.

As an added extra, this is also the final event to be hosted by original founder Penny Lee. It is three and a half years since Penny started this chapter in Sheffield and this is our 34th morning!!! We really look forward to seeing you there for this very special last edition of 2019.