Vibrant portraits celebrate the bold appearances that defined London’s ‘Swinging Sixties’

Recognised for his exemplary collaborations with David Bowie, photographer Brian Duffy’s wider practice recorded modern Britain, exploring the youth-driven cultural shift within art, music and fashion. This diverse collection of photographs, many unpublished since the 1960s, encompasses fashion editorials, celebrity portraiture and international advertising campaigns as Duffy captured the lifestyle trends of this momentous decade.

A commercial photographer since 1959, when he shot his first commission for The Sunday Times, Duffy went on to work with countless publications including British Vogue.

From Jean Shrimpton to Grace Coddington, Michael Caine to David Bowie, Duffy captured each personality with a playful and commanding duality, challenging the typical notions of a studio portrait.

After an exceptional career taking some of the most iconic pictures of a generation, Duffy became frustrated by the industry and his work as a photographer, and in 1979 abruptly retired, rebelliously burning a large number of his negatives in a backyard fire.

In 2010, Duffy died at the age of 76, leaving behind a small number of signed works, many on view within the exhibition. What negatives remained formed The Duffy Archive, a comprehensive history of twenty five years of British culture and fashion.

Sixties Style: Shot by Duffy, Proud Galleries, 2 February – 18 March 2018. Visit www.proud.co.uk for more details.

All images Photo Duffy © Duffy Archive