Under the Surface: Mysterious and Magical Underwater Photography by Lexi Laine

Lexi Laine is a British artist working in the medium of photography. Based on the south coast of the UK, Lexi specialises in creating ethereal underwater scenes in some of the most unique and pristine locations around the globe.

She has spent several years training as a freediver in order to extend the amount of time she can stay underwater. Lexi chooses not to use scuba equipment and instead undertakes all of her work on a single breath hold. More often than not her photographs depict a single female or multiple women, featuring highly skilled freedivers as the subjects.

Morte: Lexi Laine, Instagram

Works responding to the human impact on the marine environment can be seen throughout the artist’s portfolio. Influences of 17th and 18th century baroque painting, fantasy and folklore can also often be found in her images. Lexi enjoys explorations of surreal contradictions, blurring boundaries and using photography as a means to create otherworldly, emotive art.

Lexi studied BA Fine Art at UCA (University for the Creative Arts) Canterbury in 2001-2004 and since graduating has been building her career as a photographer and artist. In 2019 Lexi was shortlisted as a finalist in both the Art Gemini Prize and The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. For two years running, in 2018 and 2019 she was awarded ‘Image of the Year’ by leading UK training provider, Photography Farm. Also in 2019 Lexi was sponsored by Sony UK to create a short behind the scenes documentary of her practise. The project was undertaken in the magical cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.