Blackpool Beach
- Artist: Chris Steele-Perkins
- Date: 1980–9
- Medium: Photograph, dye destruction on paper
- Dimensions: image: 303 x 405 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Blackpool Beach” by Chris Steele‑Perkins, taken in 1980‑9 as part of his series *The Pleasure Principle*. It’s a colour cibachrome photograph printed on paper with dye destruction, so you can see the vivid blues of the sea and the bright whites of beachwear. The image shows a sunny stretch of Blackpool: a few deckchairs, a sun lounger, children running along the sand, a dog trotting in the waves – all the familiar sights of a British holiday spot.
Steele‑Perkins was interested in “public rituals” that people use to display identity and happiness. In this picture you can read those rituals through clothing, body positions and even the little donkey crossing the frame. It’s more than just a scenic snapshot; it’s a social comment on how leisure activities, from sunbathing to sports, cut across class and geography.
You’ll notice people in swimwear and a woman holding a book – small details that hint at everyday life. The photograph captures the energy of 1980s Britain while still feeling timeless. In the set he also includes a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, showing how he blended politics with leisure.
So take a moment to observe the composition: the people, the water, and the subtle colour play – it’s a small window into what Brits were doing when they went to the beach that year.
See it in person
Blackpool Beach is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
