Madeleine Waterhouse has built a creative life that moves between photographs, fashion, music and film. Also known as Maddi Waterhouse or Madeleine Jean Waterhouse, the London-based artist works as a photographer, printmaker and filmmaker. Her professional background also includes modelling, making her familiar with life on both sides of the camera.
As the younger sister of Suki Waterhouse and Imogen Waterhouse, she belongs to a family with several creative careers. Yet her own projects offer plenty to explore, from early magazine appearances to songwriting and cinematography. Looking at those projects together reveals a career shaped by curiosity, practical experience and an interest in telling stories through different forms.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Madeleine Jean Waterhouse |
| Also Known As | Maddi Waterhouse and maddi jean |
| Nationality | British |
| Based In | London, England |
| Profession | Photographer, printmaker, filmmaker, model and DJ |
| Creative Fields | Fine art, documentary photography, fashion and music |
| Photography Approach | Analogue film, darkroom printing and alternative photographic processes |
| Education | Studied art history at SOAS; her professional biography lists MA studies in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art |
| Well-Known Sisters | Suki Waterhouse and Imogen Waterhouse |
| Magazine Cover | Tatler, February 2017 |
| Brand Collaborations | Longchamp, Stella McCartney, Alessandra Rich and the Royal Ballet |
| Photography Publications | Wonderland, AnOther, Rolling Stone, Perfect Magazine, Notion and Numéro |
| Music Video Credit | Director of photography for Suki Waterhouse’s “Dream Woman” (2025) |
| Debut Single | “young in love”, released as maddi jean in 2020 |
Early Modelling Work and Magazine Appearances
Madeleine’s modelling work brought her into the public eye while she was young. One clear milestone was her appearance on Tatler’s February 2017 cover. The magazine also released a film showing her skating beside the Thames and taking part in the cover shoot, photographed by Jason Kim.
That feature captured a playful side of her public image. Alongside the fashion photographs, the accompanying video gave readers a glimpse of her personality through movement and conversation. It remains a useful early record of her work in front of the camera.
Modelling and photography involve different responsibilities, but both depend on visual communication. Clothing, expression, setting and composition all contribute to what an audience takes away from an image. Madeleine’s career has given her experience of these elements from more than one position.
Working with Suki on a Fashion Campaign
In 2017, Madeleine appeared in a back-to-school campaign for Pop & Suki, the accessories brand founded by Suki Waterhouse and Poppy Jamie. Photographer Chloe Sheppard shot the campaign, which drew inspiration from the film Clueless and the style of the 1990s.
Speaking to W Magazine, Madeleine explained that she enjoyed being involved with a brand she had watched develop. She also welcomed the freedom to style herself using her own clothes. This gave her a creative contribution beyond appearing in the finished photographs.
The campaign offers an early example of her combining personal taste with a professional brief. It also shows how family relationships have sometimes become working partnerships, with each person contributing to a shared project.
An Interest in Art That Goes Back Years
Madeleine’s interest in art was already clear during that same interview. She named history of art as her favourite school subject and spoke about enjoying symbolism in paintings. She was interested in understanding what an artist might be communicating through an image.
That detail provides useful context for her later work. Looking carefully at an artwork means considering more than its surface appearance. A colour, gesture or object can suggest something that is never directly explained.
Her education has continued alongside her creative projects. In 2020, Notion reported that she was completing the second year of an art history degree at SOAS. Her professional biography now lists an MA in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art, focused on developing darkroom work and alternative photographic printing.
Photography, Fashion and Published Work
Madeleine’s photography covers fine art, documentary and fashion. Her professional portfolio lists work with Longchamp, Stella McCartney, Alessandra Rich and the Royal Ballet. It also records photographs published in Perfect Magazine, Wonderland, Rolling Stone, AnOther, Notion and Numéro.
These credits span several settings for image-making. A fashion commission may need to communicate the character of clothing or a collection. A portrait can depend on expression and the relationship between subject and photographer. Documentary work brings its own questions about observation and the moment being recorded.
Her published photography also includes a portrait of Suki for Cultured. The magazine credits Madeleine Waterhouse as the photographer on its profile, providing another documented example of the sisters working together.
Why Analogue Printing Matters to Her
A particularly revealing part of Madeleine’s practice is her interest in hands-on photographic printing. In a 2025 interview with PUSS PUSS, she discussed making cyanotypes and experimenting with prints in Ibiza. She described working with sunlight, water, trays and a washing line.
She explained that the process appealed to her because it involved experimentation and unpredictable results. Shooting and printing also helped her feel grounded and present. These comments give a direct insight into what she enjoys about making images.
There is a physical dimension to this kind of work: the photograph becomes an object that must be handled, washed and dried. For viewers discovering her through fashion coverage, that practical side adds another layer to her creative profile.
Her Own Music as Maddi Jean
Madeleine has also released music under the name maddi jean. In September 2020, Notion featured her debut single, “young in love”, introducing her work as a recording artist.
In the accompanying interview, she discussed the influence of Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, particularly the emotional effect of storytelling through songs and videos. She also named artists including Clairo, King Princess and Beabadoobee among her inspirations.
The single’s video brought music and image-making together. Madeleine and her friend Ruby Walden directed, filmed and edited it using her camcorder. She connected the song to an intense early relationship, explaining how it preserved feelings that had changed by the time she looked back on them.
It is a useful example of her taking part in several stages of a project, from expressing an experience in music to shaping its visual presentation.
Her Role in Suki Waterhouse’s “Dream Woman”
Another notable credit arrived with “Dream Woman”, released by Suki Waterhouse on 19 February 2025. Sub Pop’s official announcement names Imogen Waterhouse as director and Madeleine Jean Waterhouse as director of photography for the music video.
A director of photography helps shape how a production looks through decisions involving lighting, framing and camera work. The role connects photographic judgement with movement and the practical demands of a film set.
For Madeleine, the credit adds a clear example of cinematography to her portfolio. It also brings together three sisters with separate responsibilities: Suki as the performer, Imogen directing and Madeleine working on the photography.
DJing and a Different Kind of Creative Energy
Madeleine’s work also extends to DJing. In her PUSS PUSS interview, she described it as bringing out a playful, sociable side of her personality. She enjoyed its immediate connection with people and the different experiences it offered.
She also spoke about making playlists while travelling, choosing music to suit her mood and surroundings. For her, those playlists could preserve memories of a place and bring her back to a particular time.
That gives music a place in her life beyond recording songs or working on videos. It becomes another way of noticing, collecting and revisiting experiences.
Conclusion
Madeleine Waterhouse’s career brings together modelling, photography, printmaking, music and film. Her documented projects show a willingness to learn different skills and take an active role in making work. From a camcorder music video to professional cinematography, her creative journey offers a varied and engaging story in its own right.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Madeleine Waterhouse?
Madeleine Waterhouse, also known as Maddi Waterhouse, is a British photographer, printmaker, filmmaker and model.
2. Is Madeleine Waterhouse related to Suki Waterhouse?
Yes. She is the younger sister of Suki Waterhouse and Imogen Waterhouse.
3. What did Madeleine Waterhouse do on “Dream Woman”?
She was the music video’s director of photography. Imogen Waterhouse directed it.
4. Has Madeleine Waterhouse released music?
Yes. She released “young in love” under the artist name maddi jean in 2020.
5. Has Madeleine Waterhouse appeared on a magazine cover?
Yes. She appeared on the cover of Tatler’s February 2017 issue.
