Cold Water Swimmers of Tooting Bec Lido

© Tom Harrison

Cold Water Swimmers of Tooting Bec Lido is an exhibition that was shown in our second gallery space, Gallery 2. The series features 14 captivating portraits by Lambeth-based photographer Tom Harrison.

As a regular swimmer at Tooting Bec Lido, Tom set out to document the unique energy of those who brave its icy waters. Each subject was photographed immediately after their swim, capturing the rawness, exhilaration and endorphin-fuelled glow that cold water swimming brings. The portraits reveal not just the physical impact but also the deep sense of resilience, vitality and community fostered at the Lido.

Tooting Bec Lido, the largest freshwater pool in England, has been a South London landmark since 1906. More than a century later, it remains a space for both recreation and reflection, bringing together people from all walks of life through their love of cold-water swimming.

Tom’s photography spans advertising commissions and documentary projects, with a focus on people and their passions. His previous series include The Mudlarks of London, exploring those who scour the Thames foreshore for historic artifacts, and The Referees of Hackney Marshes, a tribute to amateur football officials. His ability to capture joy, resilience, and human connection is a defining feature of his work.

Tom’s work has been widely published, and he was a winner of the British Journal of Photography’s prestigious 2025 Portrait of Britain Award.

This exhibition was supported by Capture One.

Gallery 2 is Photofusion’s second Gallery space, designated to support work in and around Lambeth and by Lambeth based visual artists and practitioners.

Encounters

In partnership with main contractor Bryen & Langley Ltd, Photofusion commissioned two emerging photographic talents, Lucy Bruce-Gardner and The1Harris, to document the revitalisation of the Brixton Rec Quarter which Bryen & Langley Ltd delivered on behalf of the London Borough of Lambeth.

The project was funded by the London Borough of Lambeth and £2.17m from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund.

The Rec is a new series of portraits from photographer Lucy Bruce-Gardner, made during conversations with local store owners, shoppers and people visiting Brixton Station Road Market. Her portrait "Erica" was short-listed for The Portrait of Britain Prize 2023 by the British Journal of Photography.

Rubble & Dust is a body of work from The1Harris, which captures quotidian sights of spaces, tools and workers during the construction of Photofusion and The Advocacy Academy’s new home.

Harris documented the work carried out by Bryen & Langley’s team as they spent 12 months transforming the disused storage space in the Brixton Recreation Centre into a new home for vital local charities Photofusion and The Advocacy Academy, further embedding these organisations into the Brixton landscape. This project sees a departure from Harris’ primary people-focused discipline, tackling social issues, such as recent work ‘Unseen/Unmasked’ which saw a 1 month residency at the heart of east London in Shoreditch, or his upcoming publication ‘Tethering Presence’ in partnership with award winning designer Micah Purnell & x Adobe Collab x.