James Sparshatt’s work dramatically captures the vibrancy and emotional intensity of life. Over the last twenty five years he has emerged as one of the leading photographers of Cuba, having visited the island on 15 separate occasions. He has also worked extensively in Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. He was shortlisted for the Sony World Photographic Awards in 2009 and was a finalist in the World Photography Gala awards in 2010. His image “Soweto Strings” was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York in November 2011 and his work is shown at contemporary art fairs across the world.

A selection of his black and white images have been produced as palladium platinum prints by Paul and Max Caffell of 31 Studio, who also work with David Bailey, the Henri Lartigue foundation and Sebastião Salgado.

A platinum print is the ultimate expression of bespoke craft printing. In the hands of a master printer unexpected nuances can be extracted from a negative, creating a work on paper that goes beyond normal black and white prints to carry one’s artistic sensibilities into light, tone, and texture. There are similarities of tonal quality to a good charcoal drawing and the visual and tactile qualities of a fine etching.