The Last Resort: Forty Years On

This special book is being published in association with the Martin Parr Foundation to coincide with an exhibition being shown at the Foundation’s Bristol-based gallery to honour Martin Parr following his death in December, 2025. Shot around the English seaside town of New Brighton between 1983 and 1985, 'The Last Resort' was one of the pioneering bodies of work driving British colour documentary photography and established Martin as one of Britain’s most influential photographers.The book includes a selection of images from the iconic 'Last Resort' series, as well as extensive archive material including photographs, contact sheets and items of ephemera from Martin’s personal collection. Isaac Blease, Archivist at the Foundation, explores the background to the project, the influences that led Martin to move from black and white photography to colour, and the initial exhibition of the work in Liverpool and then at the Serpentine Gallery in London. Peter Brawne, the designer of the original 1986 book discusses how the design process was developed as well as the experience of working with Martin. Finally there is a short text by Susie Parr, Martin’s wife, in which she describes her perspective of New Brighton and of the first exhibition of the work at Liverpool’s Open Eye Gallery in 1985.