About
Abbie Trayler-Smith is an acclaimed portrait and documentary photographer, specialising in capturing people’s reactions and responses to contemporary events and social issues. Often challenging, sometimes tinged with wry humour, but always beautifully crafted and created, Abbie’s work is exquisitely personal and naturally observational. At the heart of each image lies an intense, personal connection to each and every subject, which reveals the everyday, the ordinary, the anguish, the humility and extraordinary courage of those on the other side of her lens.
Abbie has been a recipient of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London twice, she has received a World Press Photo Award, and successfully published her monograph Kiss it! this year with GOST Books, which is part of her ongoing, personal project ‘The Big O’ on childhood obesity.
She is represented by SWERVE
I am a portrait and documentary photographer, working both commercially and as a cultural reporter, I’m often asked to document people’s reactions and responses to contemporary events and social issues. I’m happiest creating images that tell the important stories and attempt to connect us to our humanity.
I am always on the lookout for interesting collaborations and projects to work on, and all the best and most exciting projects start with an informal chat. So if you or your organisation would like me to help document your world, or to see your work through fresh eyes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’ll be delighted to hear from you.
For commercial enquiries please contact my lovely agent Lucy at SWERVE Represents
Exhibitions
Awards
2017 Taylor Wessing Prize at The National Portrait Gallery: 2nd Prize
2014 World Press Photo Awards: 2nd Prize Staged Portraits
2014 Ideastap Magnum Photographic Award 31+: 1st Prize
2011 The Taylor Wessing Prize at The National Portrait Gallery: 4th Prize
2009 PPY UK Multimedia: 1st Prize
2009 The Nikon Award for Multimedia: 1st Prize
Exhibitions
2014 World Press Photo Exhibition: Worldwide Tour
2014 Ideastap Magnum Photographic Award at The Truman Brewery, London
2014 National Open Art Exhibition, Somerset House, London
2013 Featured Artist, BursaFotoFest, Turkey.
2013 Ideastap Photographic Prize, Mother, London
2013 On Solid Ground, European Tour: London, Brussels, Munich, Perpignan
2012 Portrait Salon London
2011 Foto8 Summer show, Host Gallery, London
2010 Foto8 Summer show, Host Gallery, London
2010 Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at The National Portrait Gallery, London
2009 Still Human, Still Here, Host Gallery and St Martins-in-the-Field, London
2009 Still Human Stil Here, Fotopub, Slovenia
