James Sparshatt Art

A moment of pure joy in Holguín, Cuba, during las Romerias de Mayo festival. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the...

The forest awakens in spring. New leaves uncurl as morning light brings forth new growth. James Sparshatt’s black and white landscapes have an ethereal beauty. They are moments wh...

New Orleans is a mecca for music lovers from around the world. Wandering up Frenchmen Street on a sultry Louisianan evening is to be surrounded by competing sounds vying for attentio...

Aodh is a god of the underworld and prince of the Daoine Sidhe in Irish mythology. The crashing waves in this cave made its legend as a gateway to the realm of the Gods entirely u...

Graciela was for many years an institution in Old Havana. Always dressed beautifully, a cigar clamped between her teeth, a grin at the ready. A witness to the Cuban revolution and 50...

Fuerza y Poder – Strength and Power. The Raphael Trejo gym is an institution of Old Havana. An open air gym that has produced world beating champions from bare-footed initiates. I...

Southern Belle 2023 Dancers in Reds bar in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in the early hours. The juke joint as a place to dance, rough around the edges, a place where anything goes, whe...

Sonhos silenciosas 2023 Silent dreams. A young performer during the Night of the Silent Drums. The Carnaval of Olinda, on the north east coast of Brazil, is a week of high energy and exuberance. Dancers and musicians perform in Blocos that progress slowly through the streets of the beautiful colonial era town. Olinda Pernambuco Brazil James Sparshatt‘s black and white portraits are a search for a connection with a world of emotions. His photographs from the streets of Havana, the milongas of Buenos Aires, the jazz clubs of New Orleans and bars of Andalucia capture the spirit of music in populations wher it is the very lifeblood and expression of life. Matt print direct on to aluminium Edition of 12 Dark wood tray...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley in Cuba. In 1959 residents of Cuba were faced with a stark choice: stay on their island home and live as a “revolutionary” or leave. Some believed wholeheartedly in the new beginning, some were willing to be carried along and some abandoned everything they had and chose exile. The Buena Vista social club...

It was almost 3am and we were still waiting for the band to start to play. I stood on the open air stage buffeted by the winds as the group and their roadies struggled to set up. Th...

An image of adoration and worship. Holguín, Cuba during a festival of dance. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the...

Portrait of Elvirio el Dandy. An icon of Old Havana at the turn of the century. His custom of wearing finery has spawned a whole generation of young “Dandies” who hang out on Havan...

On a musical and pleasure seeking pilgrimage… during Las Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguín. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dr...

Music in Havana is an almost ever present backdrop to life… wandering the streets it is almost as though there is a soundtrack playing to the movie of your life. These school kids...

Sparshatt Dalzell is a collaboration between photographer James Sparshatt and painter Rachael Dalzell. The portrait was taken in 2003 on Plaza de la Catedral by James. Rachael’s ...

A man of gentlemany demeanour, content with his cigar. A sentinel watching the world pass amidst the endless sugar cane country of central Cuba. The Spirit of the Revolution serie...

A moment of calm amongst busy patterns and fabrics. Resting before it all comes to life. The Carnaval of Olinda, on the north east coast of Brazil, is a week of high energy and exub...

A moment of joy on the dancefloor at the Festival Acadiens et Creoles in 2019 in Lafayette, Louisiana. A joyous connection! Lafayette Louisiana, USA 2019 James Sparshatt‘s black a...

La Linea by James Sparshatt. Romantic black and white framed photograph of tango dancers. A line to be crossed… a man leads with strength and tenderness on ...

La Linea by James Sparshatt. Romantic photo of tango. Palladium Platinum Print. A line to be crossed… a man leads with strength and tenderness on the tango ...

Havana Café. El Escabeche is a bar about halfway along called Obispo in old Havana. It was late afternoon when the band began to play. Their new lead singer was performing for the fi...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley in Cuba. In 1959 residents of Cuba were faced with a stark choice: stay on their island home and live as a “revolutionary” or leave. Some believed wholeheartedly in the new beginning, some were willing to be carried along and some abandoned everything they had and chose exile. The Buena Vista social club found fame as much for their incredible spirit as for their music, but for me it is the everyman that you meet on the street, cigar clamped between teeth, a glint in the eye, that embodies the true spirit of those who have lived through 50 years of struggle. James Sparshatt’s photographs of the “Revolutionary” generation of Cubans capture their grit and indominatable spirit. The black and white portrait photograph...

A photograph of Mario locked in a harmonious embrace with his trumpet… a moment of magic in a jazz club in New Orleans. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the ...

Te veo… I see you. Matanzas 2005. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a strength ...

Havana Café. El Escabeche is a bar about halfway along called Obispo in old Havana. It was late afternoon when the band began to play. Their new lead singer was performing for the fi...

Just after sunrise the mists disburse to reveal a panorama of pagodas stretching across the Bagan valley in Burma. Drifting slowly in the almost imperceptible breeze a flotilla of h...

Every Sunday afro-Cubans gather in the Callejon de Hammel to play the drums and sing the harsh vocals of rumba. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cuban...

Every Sunday afro-Cubans gather in the Callejon de Hammel to play the drums and sing the harsh vocals of rumba. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cuban...

Les Vacances III The west coast of France is a place to eat delectable oysters, drink fine wines and walk along endless beaches in the glare of the summer sun. The Atlantic swell an...

El Ensayo (the rehearsal) was taken during the Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguin Cuba. The troupe were preparing for a performance of Afro-Cuban dance...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a s...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have a s...

Location: Havana Series : Spirit of the Revolution Year: 2001 Portrait of Elvirio el Dandy. An icon of Old Havana at the turn of the century. His custom of wearing finery has spaw...

A lady of pure joy… dancing in the Plaza de la Revolucion on May 1st. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as...

June Lake on the Eastern Escarpment of the Californian Sierra Maestre range. Hours before sunrise the frozen lake was buffeted by winds. The ice cracked and ...

The Viñales valley in western Cuba is a place of stunning beauty where perhaps the finest tobacco leaves in the world are grown. The tobacco farmers live hard but proud lives. The S...

A man of gentlemany demeanour, content with his cigar. A sentinel watching the world pass amidst the endless sugar cane country of central Cuba. The Spirit of the Revolution serie...

Puro is Cuban slang for a cigar… alegria is Spanish for happiness… for Graciela both always seemed essential to her being. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generati...

A Babalao or priest of the Santeria religion The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 1959 as young adults. They have ...

It was Christmas day and we were heading to Santa Maria beach in a hired Cuban school bus about 40 minutes from Centro Havana. The girls of Rumba Morena beg...

Dancing to the rhythm of the Gods in Santiago de Cuba… Ochun reborn… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm ...

El Ensayo (the rehearsal) was taken during the Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguin Cuba. The troupe were preparing for a performance of Afro-Cuban dance...

A moment of harmony… male with female, African with Hispanic… joined together in the dance that is Cuba. James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and int...

A frozen morning on the Bure River – a glass-like reflection of the over-arching trees James Sparshatt’s black and white landscapes from his Norfolk home emphasize the beauty of the big skies...

On a musical and pleasure seeking pilgrimage… during Las Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguín. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dr...

On a musical and pleasure seeking pilgrimage… during Las Romerias de Mayo festival in Holguín. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dr...

Two dancers entwined with a gancho… in a milonga tango club in Buenos Aires James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the...

Double bass player wandering along Santa Elena beach in Cuba James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of the m...

A tobacco farmer from the Viñales valley in Cuba. In 1959 residents of Cuba were faced with a stark choice: stay on their island home and live as a “revolutionary” or leave. Some believed wholeheartedly in the new beginning, some were willing to be carried along and some abandoned everything they had and chose exile. The Buena Vista social club...

New Orleans is a mecca for music lovers from around the world. Wandering up Frenchmen Street on a sultry Louisianan evening is to be surrounded by competing sounds vying for attentio...

The Skellig Islands are off the coast of Kerry in Ireland. Once the home of reclusive monks they have gained notoriety recently as a retreat for Luke Skywalker… Lit by moon light reflected off the Atlantic Ocean swell they portray a calm at odds with the often stormy seas that batter them.. James Sparshatt’s black and white landscapes have an ethereal beauty. They are moments when the natural form of topography is given magic by the transient touch of the elements. The work is also available as a smaller archival giclee print and as a collectors edition Palladium Platinum print. Palladium platinum print Edition of 12 Signed by artist al verso Stamped by 31 Studio – platinum print masters Certificate of Authenticity from gallery Country: County Kerry...

Just after dawn on the Henderson swamp in Louisiana, with only alligators and storks for company, the hanging moss and primeval cypress trees in calm magnificence. James Sparshatt’s...

Double bass player wandering along Santa Elena beach in Cuba James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of the m...

The old teacher. When he was young tango was the Argentine dance. Born in the back streets and brothels of Buenos Aires its staccato movements and deep rooted passion were all-consum...

La telaraña or “spider’s web” was taken in a dance school in Santa Clara, Cuba. The dance symbolised the relationship between man and woman… the man flirting, the woman turning away ...

El Principe - the little prince.  The Raphael Trejo gym is an institution of Old Havana. An open air gym that has produced world beating champions from bare-footed initiates.  In 2004 this boy was a star in the making... he went on to win medals in the boxing ring at London, Rio and Tokyo Olympic...

A lady of pure joy… dancing in the Plaza de la Revolucion on May 1st 2001. The Spirit of the Revolution series documents the generation of Cubans that saw the dramatic changes of 19...

The drums that provide the driving beat underpinning Cuban music were brought from Africa. Each distinct rhythm corresponded to a different God in the pantheon of Yoruba deities, all...

Close your eyes, lean in, rest forehead to cheek and trust in your partner to take you on a journey… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensi...

Lost in each others embrace… James Sparshatt’s photographs of music and dance capture the emotion and intensity of people lost in the rhythm of the moment. The work is available as...