About

Philip Butler ARPS is a Worcestershire based photographer focusing primarily on documenting the remains of Great Britain’s inter-war architecture. Amongst these ageing structures lie what is left of the country’s first steps into the Modernist and Art Deco movements. Often in need of sympathetic renovation, occasionally on the brink of demolition, but increasingly seen as important pieces of our heritage, Philip has been capturing what is left of yesterday’s bold futuristic creations in the Twenty-First Century.

Philip’s photographs have been published in a number of different magazines and newspapers including C20 Magazine, RPS Journal, The Modernist, La Vangaurdia Sunday Magazine and online in the Guardian and the Pictorial List. He also contributed an image to Elaine Harwood’s 2019 book Art Deco Britain published by Batsford.

2019 saw the publication of Odeon Relics, an annotated photo-book documenting the surviving buildings constructed by the iconic cinema chain in the 1930s. This hardback features Philip’s complete contemporary photo series, period photos by John Maltby and an introduction by architectural writer Jason Sayer.

Philip’s new book Small Hours, a series based on a side-project capturing artificial light after dark was published in November 2020.

Philip is also one of the founding members of the Art Deco Society UK, a not-for-profit organisation celebrating all forms of design from the UK between the wars.

For enquiries regarding prints, image licences, commissions or anything else, please use the below email.

Contact: hello@philipbutlerphotography.com  Twitter/Instagram: @artdecomagpie

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Philip Butler

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13 thoughts on “ About ”

    2. You should check out the Mecca bingo hall in Southport Merseyside .It is the most Art Deco looking building I have ever seen. It is on the main st which is lord st. I think it may have been a cinema previously

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      1. Hi James, thanks for getting in touch. I wasn’t aware of the Mecca, so thanks for the tip off. I’ve looked it up and it apparently opened in 1929 as the Garrick Theatre. It looks to be an impressive place, I’ll try to visit sometime and get some shots. best wishes, Philip

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  2. Hi Philip, I came across your blog about a week ago thanks to Twitter and I have been enjoying it thoroughly. I look forward to more of your posts and your photographs. I’m always happy to find people out there with a love of Art Deco that matches mine. I’ve starting collecting Art Deco items since I was 18, which was back in 1982, although my love of the style goes back a bit further. I noticed that you had visited my blog site (Driving For Deco) recently, for which I thank you. Keep up your good work.
    Anthony

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    1. Hi Anthony, thanks for your message. I’ve been meaning to get in touch. Firstly to say thanks for all your retweets (you’re enlarging my coverage from about 100 to 3000!), and secondly to say how much I’m enjoying your blog. I’ve not had time to delve into it deeply yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed your very comprehensive article on NY airport and will work back from there.
      I’d love to get over to the states and really soak up some of your fantastic architecture, but with a young family it’s not massively easy. We’re considering making a trip to Miami next year if we can afford it (and can bare the thought of a long flight with the nippers!), but its Manhattan that I really want to get over to. I went when I was 15, but obviously didn’t appreciate the buildings back then.
      Keep up the good work and stay in touch.
      Cheers, Phil

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    1. I wish I could start my posts with ‘when I was in the States’ rather than when I was in Droitwich! Yeah that certainly looks like the business, the carpet in particular has increased my pulse rate. I better go and sit down!

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      1. I remember being impressed by the large, sweeping suspended balcony, which not only looked great but was a superb piece of engineering.

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  4. Hi Philip, Just came across your site for the first time and have to say it is clearly a well-thought out labour of love. I live not very far from Marine Court in Hastings and the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. Well done, and keep it going. I find Art Deco/the Moderne style instinctively appealing but struggle to put a finger on what precisely the attraction(s) is/are – if you have ever come across a stylistic psychoanalysis as opposed to a conventional architectural appreciation I would love to read it …?!

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    1. Hi Kai, thanks for getting in touch, and for your kind words about the site. I’ve a soft spot for Sussex, having grown up in Crowhurst, and spent many of my teenage years kicking around Hastings. Alas, I don’t get down that way as often as I’d like to these days, but its always a pleasure when I do.
      I can’t say I’ve come across any psychoanalysis of Deco appreciation, but I’ll let you know if I do! It would certainly help me answer the ‘what do you love about 30s design?’ question I predictably get asked from time to time!
      Best wishes,
      Philip

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  5. Hi, Philip, I’m still appreciatively working thru Streamline Worcestershire, one of the last copies of which I recently ordered. I’ve just stumbled across an example not in your book while delivering flyers for the Parish Council in Hagley. It’s at 28 Middlefield Lane, set back from the road behind greenery, and has an art deco garage to one side too. I’ll ask round the Local History Soc. on
    Tuesday and see what anyone knows about it. – may be a bit too modern(e) for them!

    Happy hunting, Yann.

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    1. Hi Yann, thanks for getting in touch! I’ve tried to find it on streetview, but it doesn’t give a very good angle from the road. Is the one with blue Crittal windows (I’m not sure the street numbers are correct on google)?
      There were a few moderne houses from the period I left out of the book due to the owners not replying to my request to take pictures. I’m sure there must be several others scattered about that I don’t know about though. I’ll keep a note in case I ever produce an updated reprint!
      Best wishes,
      Philip

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