Hugh Turvey
Hugh Turvey is a pioneering British x-ray artist whose innovative practice has explored the intersection of art, photography and science for more than 25 years. Working between the worlds of contemporary photography and radiographic imaging, Turvey has become internationally recognised for transforming x-ray technology into a unique artistic medium.
Originally trained in graphic design and photography, Hugh studied under the renowned photographer Gered Mankowitz before beginning his groundbreaking experiments with x-ray imagery in the mid-1990s. His work reimagines traditional photographic processes through the use of large-format x-ray film, multiple exposures, chemical manipulation and hand-colouring techniques, producing striking images he describes as “Xograms”.
The term “Xogram” was coined by Turvey to describe his distinctive x-ray photograms — camera-less images created using x-ray exposure rather than visible light. Drawing inspiration from the earliest photographic pioneers, including William Fox Talbot and Wilhelm Röntgen, his work bridges historical photographic processes with contemporary experimentation and scientific imaging.
Turvey’s work has been widely exhibited and published internationally and has featured in collaborations with major global brands including LVMH and CHANEL, as well as editorial features in publications such as Vogue Italia. His imagery spans fine art, advertising, public art, film, design and immersive healthcare environments.
In 2009, Hugh was appointed the first Artist in Residence at the British Institute of Radiology since its foundation in 1924. In recognition of his pioneering contribution to photographic imaging and public engagement with science, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society in 2014. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2016.
Today, Hugh continues to push the boundaries of photographic practice through a diverse range of artistic collaborations, public speaking engagements and large-scale visual projects, exploring the hidden structures and unseen beauty of the everyday world through x-ray art.
View a selection of Hugh’s works below ↓
X-RAY Cyanotypes
Marine X-rays
Floral X-rays
To enquire about Hugh’s artworks please contact us here
“Hugh Turvey, contemporary pioneer of the x-ray art genre over 25 years, has witnessed first-hand the advances of imaging and is uniquely positioned between the aesthetic photographic and radiographic worlds. His work has cultural, art historical and photographic reference points which bridge the divide between science and art. His work appears in an extensive plethora of artistic collaborations and publications.”
