Iconic seaside exhibition on city bus shelter roofs

Next time you get on one of Brighton & Hove’s double decker buses, you may be treated to something very special.

As part of the Brighton Festival, a series of iconic seaside images are being displayed on the roofs of bus shelters around the city.

The super-sized images for the ‘Beside the Sea’ exhibition are the work of photographers Martin Parr and JJ Waller.

The council have helped facilitate the exhibition, which will also be on display for everyone at Hove Museum, the Seafront Gallery and local poster sites.

A picture of a person in a headscarf and makeup

Credit: JJ Waller

You’ll be able to see some of the amazing photographs on top of bus shelters near Brighton Railway Station, Queen’s Road, North Street, Valley Gardens, St Peters Church, London Road, Elm Grove and Lewes Road.

Travelling by bus is a great way to get around Brighton & Hove. We have a fantastic bus network and we’ve been working hard to make bus travel better and cheaper. This exhibition is a brilliant opportunity to hop on, head up to the top deck and check it out for yourself.

The photographs feature the best of what a seaside city or town has to offer. Full of vibrance, energy, fun and life.

A picture of a foot in a sock and sandal on the beach

Credit: Martin Parr

More about the artists

Martin Parr, exhibiting in Brighton for the very first time, and Waller, a born and bred Brightonian, share a passion both for photographing the seaside and for exhibiting in unusual locations.

Read more about the exhibition.

JJ Waller said: “Our launch today was exciting, especially showing work in my home town along with Martin Parr whose work has been an inspiration to me. 

"We are now looking forward the other parts of the Beside The Sea trilogy at Brighton Museum and at the seafront gallery.”

Two people looking at artwork on top of a bus shelter

Image: JJ Waller (left) and Martin Parr admiring their work on top of a bus

Councillor Birgit Miller, Cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “This is a fantastic exhibition and epitomises everything Brighton & Hove is about. I’m so glad the council has been able to play a part in making this possible.

“The photographs are amazing and capture exactly what it means to be beside the seaside both here or around the world. I’d like to thank both artists for showcasing their work in such a unique way. The city’s bus passengers are in for a real treat.”