Mike Abrahams started his career as a freelance photographer in 1975. He has worked regularly on assignment for both the leading British, European, and American newspapers and magazines. These include The Times, The Observer Magazine, The Independent Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph newspaper and Magazine. L”Express, Le Monde and Liberation in France, Der Spiegel and Stern in Germany, Fortune and Forbes in the US.
In 1981 he was co-founder of Network Photographers a group of young photojournalists who pooled their resources with the aim of documenting the world around them and providing mutual support in their endeavour to produce compelling social documentary work.
Mike Abrahams has produced major bodies of work in Britain, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Africa, India and Cyprus. He covered the collapse of Communism in Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.
His work “Faith” covered Christian devotion through 14 countries and was he awarded a World Press Photo Award, Daily Life for that body of work
In 2024 his book “This Was Then” was published by Bluecoat Press
Books include:
- This Was Then – 1973-2001
- Faith – A Journey With Those Who Believe
- Still War – Photographs from the North of Ireland
- The Alienated – Growing Old Today
His work has been included in:
- Century
- 1000 Photographs You Must See Before You Die
- Things As They Are
- 40 Ans De Photo-Journalisme
- World Press Photo
He has been exhibited at:
- Visa Pour L’Image
- Les Rencontre d”Arles
- Hereford Photo Festival
- Museum for Photography Krakow
- Monchehaus Museum Goslar
- Kunsthalle Darmstadt
- Leica Gallery New York
- AOP Gallery London
- Valeria Utica, Warsaw
- World Press Photo world wide touring
- The Photographers Gallery London
- Open Eye Liverpool
- Zelda Cheatle Gallery London
- National Museum of Film and “Photography Bradford
- Half Moon Gallery London
His work from Northern Ireland was featured in the film Moving Stills
He has been published in 6 Cafe Royal Books
Awards include:
World Press Photo Award for Daily Life 2000
Pilgrim makes the ascent over rock and through mist and rain to the summit of Croagh Patrick. Ireland’s patron saint Patrick fasted for 40 days on the summit in 441 AD. County Mayo, Ireland. © Mike Abrahams
View from a shaving mirror. Tenament living, Glasgow. 1986 © Mike Abrahams
Pen Slippers early morning swim. 6 degrees. Penmaenmawr, North Wales 25th January 2025 © Mike Abrahams
TALK PHOTO is a fortnightly evening social event in Oriel Colwyn’s gallery space, where invited speakers are here IN PERSON to share presentations and insights about their work or projects, with a friendly intimate audience.
Talks start at 7pm (doors open 6.30pm) with tickets issued on a first come, first served basis.
If you are in a position to contribute towards the talks then please choose a donation option – this will directly help Oriel Colwyn and the continuation of these events going forward.
If you would prefer not to donate, please choose the FREE Ticket option.
Due to space limitations, we will be capping the audience to 30 people and are happy to offer a FREE option to remove any financial barriers to attend.