Ed Sheeran's Parents Are Involved in the Arts: Meet Imogen and John Sheeran
Ed Sheeran's parents played a significant role in his growth and development and his award-winning career. His parents worked independently to compensate for their financial constraints in the late 2000s.
British musician Ed Sheeran is the youngest child of John Sheeran and Imogen Sheeran. His parents welcomed two children, including Matthew Sheeran, born in March 1989, two years before he was born in 1991.
He got his inspiration to make music as a child and began writing songs at 11. He released his first album in September 2011, titled "+." He is widely recognized as one of the world's most prominent artists, with over 100 million RIAA certificated record sales.
Ed Sheeran performed at the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on November 05, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
Ed Sheeran got the green light to pursue music from his parents. He mentioned that they worked in the art world and supported his decision to leave school and relocate to follow his dreams. The singer acknowledged their courage, saying not many parents would allow their child to make this big move while chasing a dream.
Ed holds a lot of respect for his father and speaks about how much he looks up to him. He once said, "He's the best possible role model to have in my life, and I discover that more and more every day. Like, every day, there's something surprising that I find out about my dad."
Ed Sheeran at SiriusXM in SiriusXM Studios, in New York City, on October 17, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
John Sheeran
In 1986, John and Imogen moved to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, where their sons were born. The oldest is Matthew Sheeran, born in 1989, and Edward Sheeran in 1991. They raised their children in this city until they were old enough to attend college. John worked as an art preservation lecturer, while his wife was also invested in art.
After 40 years in the field, John threw in the towel on lecturing to focus on matters at hand. They have played a significant role in Ed's early inspiration, guiding him to find himself as an artist. His father once spoke about how they have always encouraged and added value to Ed's talent since childhood. Their hands-on approach reflects the faith they had in Ed's ability.
When John retired as a lecturer, his son Ed returned the favor they bestowed upon him as a child. Ed, already finding his space in music, encouraged his father to adopt music as a hobby to fulfill his lifelong dream of being an artist. John initially thought he would be "hyper-critical of his music," however, he turned out to be less concerned about perfection, preferring to express himself freely.
John Sheeran, Ed Sheeran, and Cherry Seaborn, at a UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, at Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, on September 28, 2021. | Source: Getty Images
John and his wife experienced hardships financially during the great recession. Their business went under, and they found it challenging to
. At the time, Ed was an Access to Music College student in Bow, east of London, and his brother studied classical music composition in Sussex, southeast England.
This change in their financial situation pushed them to open their doors to business. John used his vast experience and knowledge of art to lecture within the city around them, and Imogen conducted her jewelry design business from home.
In 2022, John delivered a lecture at an auction in Elvenden Hall called "My Life in Art" which contributed to raising over £40,000 for two charity organizations. The auction was held at Elveden Hall on Saturday, September 24. It included bids for an exclusive Elveden Hall tour, VIP hospitality tickets at Etihad Stadium, and much more.
He has also won four Grammys and is currently nominated in the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony for his song "Bam Bam" with Shawn Mendes' ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello.
John was honored by the opportunity to deliver a lecture at the auction hosted in a historically significant location. "I feel blessed to have had a working life so full of interest, challenge, and excitement and to be able to share this with the invited guests in such a magnificent, historic house," he said.
Ed Sheeran performing at War Memorial Park, in Coventry, England, on May 28, 2022. | Source: Getty Images
Imogen Sheeran
When Ed was born on February 17, 1991, both his parents worked in art galleries. They moved them to Framlingham, Suffolk, where his mother, Imogen, continued her jewelry design business, and his father remained in his career as an art curator. Imogen was also a culture publicist and ran an art constituency firm with her husband until 2010.
Imogen always supported and encouraged her children to create music. Ed once revealed that learning to play musical instruments improved his self-esteem. When Ed was an emerging artist, his mother would set up a makeshift jewelry shop outside the event in support.
In 2020, Ed revealed that his mother established a company to teach school kids more about singing. Imogen mentioned that her services benefited kids socially and mentally, and developmentally, adding that the project helped improve children's behavior, confidence, and concentration. The success that her son had seen over the years contributed to the credibility of her training skills.
Ed Sheeran and his family recently celebrated another one of his remarkable achievements. He was awarded the Songwriter of the Year award at the Brit Awards in 2022. He has also won four Grammys and is currently nominated in the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony for his song "Bam Bam" with Shawn Mendes' ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello.
Celebrities' upbringings have a significant influence on the trajectory of their art. Some stars whose parents laid the foundation for their careers include Will Smith's son, Jaden Smith, and Miley Cyrus, daughter of musician Billy Ray Cyrus.