Zena Holloway

Zena Holloway, born in Manama, Bahrain, in 1973, is a self-taught British photographer, best known for her distinctive portraits of people and animals in underwater environments. Currently based in London, UK, Zena spends her time exploring and experimenting with mediums of photography, dance, costume, and narrative. She produces spellbinding works with a strong focus on ecological and industrial change.

Early Career

Zena’s photographic career is both colourful and far-reaching, spanning the last thirty years. The creative has featured amongst a wide range of publications, including National Geographic, Dazed & Confused, Paris Match, How to Spend it, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Vanity Fair, The Observer, 125, Stylist, Quintessentially Magazine, JFW, Twill, Vision, Neon, Schon, Cent magazine and The Sunday Times. And that’s just the beginning.

Zena Holloway’s Style

Zena was hooked on the magic of the ocean and underworld from a young age. Throughout her life, she has refined an ultra-niche profession, carving out her path and creating her own magical, underwater settings. Her images capture the deep and often complex subconscious connections we have to oceans, lakes and waterways, with ominous figures emerging from within alluring dreamlike scenes.

Current Projects

Zena continues to be commissioned for global advertising campaigns and, when not on commission, creates self-funded projects promoting environmental awareness and conservation. In the same vein, her recent exhibitions in Korea and Sweden have highlighted environmental concepts that focus on pollution and loss of biodiversity in rivers. Zena was Underwater Photographer of the Year (2020) in the UK. She also recently took home the award for Nudes at the Photoshoot Awards, Italy (2020).