Terry O’Neill

Terry O’Neill (1939-2019) is recognized as one of the most sought-after photographers globally, with his works displayed in national art institutions and private collections across the globe.

From political leaders to music icons, he captured the essence of fame for more than sixty years.

Through his portraits of some of the most iconic celebrities of the 20th century, O’Neill encapsulated a period of cultural and social upheaval, contributing significantly to its visual representation.

Hailing from East London, O’Neill commenced his career by capturing images for Fleet Street newspapers in the late 1950s. His early work is distinguished by a photograph of an elderly Winston Churchill being carried from a hospital, alongside the youthful visages of The Beatles. Gaining access to the most prominent figures of his time, this initial phase reflects a burgeoning divide in British society, evident in the rising appeal of a youthful and defiant counter-culture.

As a preferred visual storyteller of the swinging cultural revolution, O’Neill infused his portraits of American musicians and actors with intimacy and humor during a period marked by the emergence of a new cult of celebrity in Hollywood.

Remaining within the heights of British society throughout the rest of his life, O’Neill went on to photograph a new generation of cultural icons, including models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell in the early 1990s and Amy Winehouse in 2008. Most notable was his commissioned portrait of the late Queen and Prince Phillip in 1992, in which O’Neill has been credited with achieving ‘the impossible’ – making the Queen drop her guard and chuckle into the camera.