Angus McBean
1904-1990 (UK)
ANGUS MCBEAN DEVELOPED A LOVE OF AMATEUR DRAMATICS AS A TEENAGER IN WALES, AND BOUGHT HIS FIRST CAMERA WITH MONEY FROM THE SALE OF HIS GRANDFATHER’S GOLD WATCH.
WITH AN ACUTE EYE FOR THE THEATRICAL, HE GOT HIS FIRST BREAK MAKING MASKS FOR THE PLAYWRIGHT IVOR NOVELLO AND THE GREAT ACTRESS VIVIEN LEIGH. THIS LED TO A LUCRATIVE INCOME STREAM FROM CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT HIS MOST MARKED CONTRIBUTION WAS IN THE APPLICATION OF SURREALIST COMPOSITIONS TO THEMES TO HIS WORK.
IN THE 60S, HE BECAME IN DEMAND FOR POP MUSIC RECORD COVERS AND DEIGNED THEM FOR CLIFF RICHARD AND THE BEATLES. HIS PHOTOGRAPHS CAN BE FOUND IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM AND THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN LONDON.
