Robert Babylon

Overview

I am a full-time professional photographer specialising in erotic and fetish fine-art photography. I am happy to discuss working on all sorts of projects from creating modeling and personal portfolios to advertising material and always on the lookout for interesting people and projects.

My award winning erotic UV (blacklight) photographs combine traditional photographic skills with cutting edge digital manipulation blurring the boundaries between the two. Some of these photographs have evolved into hand painted originals using fluorescent acrylic on canvas.

My UV work is just one aspect of my skills. I am a skilled photographer and Photoshop retoucher with over 20 years professional experience. My portraiture, particularly my high-key work is of the highest standard and bears the simple, bold graphic style and flawless finish that identifies a Robert Babylon image.

For those wanting to turn themselves into a work of art, create or simply update their portfolios I offer a discreet service of the highest quality, specialising in glamour, fashion and erotic photography. I am available for commercial, advertising and editorial commissions and have studios near Basingstoke and London.

My work has been exhibited internationally, including a solo exhibition at the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami; the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art in New York and Sin City in Las Vegas. My images have been published in magazines and books including Skin Two, Secret, Graal, Jade, Desire, Fetish Photo Anthology and Erotic Signature’s The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today.

Philosophy – Erotica for All

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the human body and erotica. My nickname as a small child was “bare-bear” because of my inability to keep my clothes on. Many people are daunted by erotica and sexuality. It’s a topic that’s usually either portrayed as very high-brow and elitist, or crass and demeaning to the model.

I wanted to create something simple and colourful which I hoped would attract people to see that erotica can be a valuable and enjoyable art-form regardless of gender.

In an industry that is often regarded as degrading to women and exploitative I am extremely proud that my work is extremely popular amongst women in the 20-45 age group.

Quotes – What Other People Have Said

“Without a doubt Robert's most amazing and unique work is his UV work, every one I show it to loves it, it’s where he really stands apart form the others and it’s very safe to display as its sexual messages are very subtle.

His images have a unique and very visual power, they leap away from the conventional, especially the amazing colours he generates with the use of UV. I think he is very much a master of this very 21st century erotic art.”

China Hamilton (Artist and Photographer)

“It is fascinating how an artist can take a mundane image or photo, add a strategic splash of color, and give it new meaning and life. That is what Robert Babylon has done with his use of Neon Lights.”

Dr. Naomi Wilzig (Owner of The World Erotic Art Museum and one of the greatest collectors of fine-art erotica in the world)

Influences

My work is inspired by both the Surrealist and Pop Art movements. The images of Man Ray, the photomontages of artists like Herbert Bayer and of course the incomparable Salvador Dali merge with influences of Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. I adore the perception of Angus McBean’s portraiture and the psychedelic 60’s posters of Mouse and Kelly.

Like many of the ‘new-school’ of mainly self-taught artists my influences are far more wide reaching and include the architecture of Sir Clough William Ellis creator of the surreal village of Portmeirion (set of the TV series ‘The Prisoner’). I enjoy films by Luis Buñel, Kenneth Anger and Peter Greenaway and music by artists like Pink Floyd, System 7, The Beatles, Underworld, The Orb, King Crimson and Eat Static.

UV Images

I am perhaps best known for my unique erotic UV images. In these I hope to combine the colours and flowing shapes found in the underwater gardens and fish of tropical reefs combined with a misspent youth in underground dance clubs, paying homage to the beautiful women I have fallen in love with at these clubs.

Biography

I was born in Surrey in 1961, I worked on the British National Space Programme in the 1980s, lectured in Video Production and was a Project Manager for one of the UK’s leading digital media agencies. At one point, I spent a short spell working in the Seychelles for their television service. However photography and in particular the new creative opportunities afforded by digital manipulation were always my main passions and with this in mind I gained an honours degree in Media Production at Bournemouth University at the age of 30 where I was the only student to major in combining real and computer generated images.

My studio is based conveniently in Hampshire, England. I also travel extensively for commissions throughout Europe and The United States.