Meet the 8 Dazed Clubbers featured on billboards across the UK

What does “be scene” mean to you? This was the question posed to our creative Dazed Club community, who submitted a range of work celebrating their diverse tribes, backgrounds and inspirations, as well as the creative practices that tie them all together. Eight of these respondents were then selected to embark on a nationwide advertising campaign featuring their work on billboards in London, Bristol, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Brighton right now.

Following our previous campaign with BUILDHOLLYWOOD in 2022 which featured works centring around ‘clubs’ in response to the recent reopening of the country following the pandemic, this latest campaign celebrates the scenes that have re-emerged in the years since.

Below, from a photographer’s reinterpretation of traditional Welsh culture for a modern context, to a Jamaican-born painter’s depictions of a derelict car in her homeland, we spotlight the eight Dazed Clubbers whose work is currently taking over the country.

Alex Murphy is a photographer currently based between London and Bristol with a particular passion for shooting portraits. His work focuses on exploring themes of otherness and identity in the queer community.

“These photos are from my series Utopia, documenting Bristol’s queer nightlife scene on film. The word Utopia encapsulates what these spaces feel like, another dimension where a queer utopia exists underneath everything else. The underbelly where people are truly themselves, not simply existing but thriving, taking up space, being authentically themselves. A mass of ‘others’ interconnected in a single space together in harmony. An idyllic version of reality.

“These spaces serve as a utopia for LGBTQ+ individuals to thrive in, within a world that hasn’t been designed to include us. A fantasy realm of complete freedom of expression, celebrating individuality, creativity and community. 

“It feels beyond surreal to see my work displayed on this scale. My desire to document overlooked communities is to shine a spotlight on these individuals and the importance of these safe spaces. I want people to feel curious and intrigued, represented and seen.”

Aran Harris is a visual artist based between the Welsh valleys, London and Leeds. His work centres on the historical subjugation of Wales and the current schisms in identity that it produces today, aiming instead to create imagery that reflects a pride in his culture, history, people and traditions.

“My photography and writing presents as a playful and sometimes humorous take on serious issues and conversations at home. One series is simply a collection of ‘characters’ that I developed and photographed out of some opinions from ‘Yes Cymru’ [Welsh independence campaign] supporters. The images appearing on the billboards are born out of this; exaggerated styling with over-top Wales paraphernalia outside a rugby stadium alongside a documentary image of Lana in a Het Gymreig and Karima in a ‘modern’ interpretation of the Welsh traditional outfit. 

“Currently I am mostly drawn to historical mismanagement of Wales’ industry and politics by the British Government and this is what my following work will entail.

“Personally, it feels like a great start in pushing our voice forward in a fashion and creative sense. I hope that the more my work will grow, the closer I get to being added to the list of talented Welsh people contributing; one group that has been making noise recently is the Creative Cymru Club who meet in London, Charlotte and Clementine from Bleak Fabulous and the plethora of musicians hailing from our little nation.

“I hope that when people see it they feel represented, and those who do not identify with the connotations of my imagery can feel that they appreciate our voice and style, and that anyone who wants to shout out their own community or personal commentary can absolutely do that.”

Katie Waite is a photographer based between Cardiff and Bristol, focusing heavily on the use of self-portraiture and personal archival material to explore themes of femininity and maternal strength. 

“The images on the billboard are from a current work in progress body of work titled Training Bra. It’s an exploration and dialogue between myself and my inner child. I have always been comfortable in front and behind of a camera, though, throughout shooting, I experienced a feeling of disassociation. The narrative behind these images are raw and super personal so to see them displayed on such a scale in public makes me feel seen and proud of my growth as a photographer.

“If just one person on their daily commute walks past and takes the time to observe and feel something, whether that be positive or negative, that’s all I want. It’s up to them how they want to decipher the images and feel. Maybe it might provide a space in which this could be the first time they think about their inner child.”

Tonique Sewell is a Kingston, Jamaica-born, London-based painter and visual artist. With a background in cinematography and interior design, Sewell hopes to use her interdisciplinary skillset to create feelings and that can be difficult to do when you’re more of a realistic painter.

“The work appearing includes my Metallic Blue series – images I captured on a family trip in Jamaica. Even though it’s the same subject in all of the paintings, there’s still mystery in how the car ended up in the condition it’s in. It looks like a prop on a set of a film and it’s there to help set the scene with different close-up camera angles of the details.

“I was dealing with artist’s block between graduating and the trip to Jamaica. I needed something that was natural, represented me and worked with my technical style of painting and this series was the perfect opportunity. I feel like you can finally see me through these paintings. There was so much opportunity and depth for me to explore all the techniques I learnt over the years. It’s challenging to differentiate the different materials on a 2D image to create depth.

“I hope people see my work and realise they really can create whatever they want, that they shouldn’t feel pressured in creating something a certain way because someone else more popular is just to fit. Feel free to merge all of your interests, even if it doesn’t make sense.”

Though she’s currently based in London, much of Gracie Brackstone’s work takes place in Manchester, where she previously lived for five years. She describes her work as ‘multidisciplinary’, combining documentary and video work to explore unconventional yet deeply cherished communities often found in queer circles.

“For me, everything I do is about love and freedom. It is all a form of protest to the binary way of living. We as queer people live in such an organic way, it is never usually the easiest option, we wish to pursue, but there is such beauty and admiration I have for that.

“I chose these images because they are mostly of people or in spaces which are so pivotal to  my life. I feel that they really capture Manchester in all its colour and cuteness. For me, they summarise Euphoria. My friend Goodie, jumping in the air on the beach is everything to me! That is when I first got close to my girls and it felt like the beginning of something so special and it really was.

“I used to always say to my friends ‘this will be on a billboard one day’, [this campaign] just makes me think you actually can speak things into existence. If you are passionate about something literally anything can happen.

“Sometimes in this age of social media and the scariness that goes on in the world we all feel so doom and gloom, I hope these pictures are proof there is still such beauty to find in the world if you are willing to look for it!”

19-year old Star Luna blends elements of fashion and music photography in her photojournalism, primarily exploring immigrant experience in London and the UK as a whole.  

“These images are from a series I’ve been working on for over a year called Dear Motherland, which is a dedication to immigrant generations all over the UK. It documents how we try to fill the disconnect between the UK and our Motherland.

“We’ve shot in London so far and, as me and my assistant Ibi shoot, we interview those participating in the project. We hope to make a book in around one or two years documenting the lives of those who live here. 

“I hope that onlookers can empathise with the feelings of the people I photographed, demonstrating that this is a universal experience that people around the world go through and that you aren’t alone. There’s a community waiting for you somewhere.”

Prinn is a Thai photographer and filmmaker based in south London and creating under the alias ‘Lately Studios’. For Prinn, this alias is a comment on how one’s state of being is always evolving from one moment to the next, and she hopes to use her work as a form of visual storytelling capturing intimate moments that often go unnoticed.

“These are all candid photos of my friends – some of the people I love the most. The hazy orange image was taken from the first time I went clubbing a couple years ago.The actual club was pretty grimy and disgusting but the image has a soft, dreamlike quality which is how I remember the night. I feel that personal experiences and emotions shape the way we remember and represent things. In editing, I focus more on mood and tone which I think has a more impactful outcome. 

“I hope people find their own narrative within the images and feel a sense of connection and nostalgia. Whether it reminds you of a memory or it reminds you to go out and make new ones. I hope it invites you to look at life more romantically.”

Originally from Barcelona, Xavier is a Manchester-based art director with a deep passion for fashion, photography, and the city’s electronic music scene. His work centres on a dialogue between his roots in Spain, and the queer nightlife culture that he is surrounded by today.

“These pictures were taken at the Bent’s Pride party in Manchester back in August. Love capturing those moments on film as they make the memories more unique giving a melancholic feel to it.

“It is pretty impressive to see my work displayed in such a format. When I went to see it with my friends we were awed by the scale of it, and the impact that gives when you walk past it. 

“I hope that it transmits the joy that these pictures are expected to bring; the mix of colours and expressions, something that brings a spark on a dull day.”