Develop Talk: Generations of Grime, The Mentor and The Mentee

06:30pm - 07:30pm, Fri 10 Mar 2023

This in person talk is part of the Develop youth programme which is open to 14 to 24 year olds. Please only sign up if you are within the age bracket.

Photo of a group of boys rapping into a microphone.

Develop Talk: Generations of Grime, The Mentor and The Mentee

6:30pm, Fri 10 Mar 2023

This in person talk is part of the Develop youth programme which is open to 14 to 24 year olds. Please only sign up if you are within the age bracket.

This event is part of our Past Programme

Explore Past Programme

Simon Wheatley and Marco Grey sit down together in person to reflect on their journey and relationship as photographers of grime music culture.

Their work dates back to the early 2000’s which has displayed longevity and is still culturally relevant to the current UK music scene - Simon and Marco have both captured some of the industry’s greatest moments and musicians with the likes of Skepta and Kano to Little Simz and AJ Tracey.

But how did this unique relationship begin? Uncover this by hearing from them both on how their mentor relationship has benefitted their careers.

Portrait of Photographer wearing a bright red coat.

Simon Wheatley

Simon is a London-based photographer and film-maker best known for chronicling London's grime culture. His 2010 book 'Don't Call Me Urban: The Time of Grime' is a classic of British documentary photography, while his recent publication ‘Lost Dreams’ goes deeper into the subject matter, with it’s focus on the role of youth clubs in the foundations of the genre - and their absence after over a decade of Tory austerity. Another recent book, ‘Silverlink’, is similarly a quietly political piece of work with its oblique chronicling of the Blair years and the contentious issue of rail privatisation. Since 2018 he has been the in-house photographer at Abbey Road Studios, where he continues to work with some of the biggest names in UK music. Amongst the many artists he has photographed are Skepta, Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Giggs, Ghetts, Miss Dynamite and Hak Baker. Leica are preparing to release a short film about his work with their M6 rangefinder as part of the relaunch of this legendary film camera.

Black and white portrait of Photographer wearing a cap.

Marco Grey

Marco started his creative journey as a photographer with a keen interest in Documentary. In 2014 he co-created a photography project that documented the active world of Grime music. Becoming known as Wot Do You Call It, the project included portraits and documentary of many young artists before they spurred into the limelight. In 2019 Marco Created “Yout” with Jeremy Ngatho Cole as a space where art can be created without compromise, Yout has collaborated with musicians such as Little Simz, Cleo Sol, Celeste, Kojey Radical, Pa Salieu, Loyle Carner and many more, across album artwork, campaign strategy, community engagement, music videos, photography and independent art projects.

Bursary places

Bursary places are reserved for 14-24-year-olds who identify as experiencing economic, social or educational disadvantage. These are offered the basis of trust, in order to ensure anonymity. If you are not experiencing economic, social or educational disadvantage, please purchase a ticket.

By booking for this event you agree to our Terms and Conditions.