​​​​​Synopsis​​​

​​Rock photography legend Tom Sheehan has worked with the greats: Jagger, R.E.M., Madonna, Oasis, and many more. He spent ten years capturing some of the most iconic shots of the Welsh rock band The Manic Street Preachers—a period which included the unexplained and unresolved disappearance of band member Richey Edwards in 1995.

 

Tom’s recollections of the band and his photography form the backdrop for artists Emily Hyatt and Mark Frudd as they take part in the Secret 7” exhibition. This unique project raises money for charity by selecting seven tracks from seven iconic musicians and pressing each onto 100 limited-edition 7-inch vinyl records. For each record, a one-of-a-kind sleeve is created by a different artist—ranging from global legends to newcomers—with the artist’s identity remaining a secret until the work is sold. With thousands of entries submitted via an open call, there is no guarantee of being chosen.

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Emily and Mark both aim to create a unique cover for The Manic Street Preachers’ track “No Surface All Feeling.” Taken from the final album the band recorded with Richey Edwards, the song resonates differently for both of them, shaped by their own personal experiences and interpretations.

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As a teenager, Emily was drawn to the music, lyrics, and sense of style of "The Manics". In Leeds, illustrator and fan Mark Frudd harbours an ambition to become a fine artist but struggles to see how he can make a living from it. Their artistic interpretations of “No Surface All Feeling” are deeply personal: Mark’s work explores the theme of friendship, specifically the bond between Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire, while Emily’s reflects on loss—connecting the disappearance of Edwards with her own lived experiences. These creative expressions are underpinned by Tom Sheehan’s recollections of time spent with The Manic Street Preachers and his last photoshoot with Edwards in 1994 at Le Bataclan in Paris.

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