YouTube video by The1975VEVO

A portrait of The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, captured by Newcastle-based photographer Neil Ferry, has been shortlisted for the 2026 British Photography Awards. Ferry, 56, took the photograph during a rehearsal for the Sunday For Sammy charity event in February 2026, describing it as a 'timeless portrait' that uses light, tone, and texture to create an atmosphere distinct from contemporary publicity photography. The photographer noted that he had only a minute to take the shot while Healy was preparing for his performance, and the musician's 'weary' appearance from long rehearsals contributed to the image's impact. Ferry is one of three photographers shortlisted for the awards, with winners to be announced on November 1. The portrait is part of a series of three images by Ferry that have been shortlisted. Ferry began photography at age 48 and later enrolled in a BA program at Newcastle College. The article also provides context about Matty Healy's background, noting his father Tim Healy is an actor and co-founder of the Sunday For Sammy event, which honors Sammy Johnson, a character from the TV show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The event raises funds for young creative talent in the North East of England. The 1975, currently working on two new albums with one tentatively titled 'DOGS', have been preparing for their next musical releases. Their fifth album, 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language', was released in 2022 and received a four-star review from NME. The band's manager, Jamie Oborne, has described the upcoming work as 'pretty extraordinary', emphasizing the importance of taking time to ensure the music is 'right' for the audience. The article also mentions that The 9075, a tribute band to The 1975, performed at Healy's stag do in Malibu, though they were sworn to secrecy about the event. The piece concludes with a reference to the band's continued success and their upcoming projects.