Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer
Sitter associated with 314 portraits
Artist associated with 1051 portraits
Born in Hampstead, Beaton became interested in photography as a young boy, inspired by postcards showing actresses of the period. His career as a portrait photographer took off after meeting the Sitwells in 1926. In 1927 he signed his first contract with Vogue, with which he was associated throughout his life. During the war he worked for the Ministry of Information, recording the war in Britain, the Middle and Far East. After the war he developed as a designer for stage, film, ballet and opera, working with Noel Coward and others. His most famous stage production was My Fair Lady (1956), the musical based on Shaw's Pygmalion. He was awarded two Oscars for the film version in 1965.
by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
pencil, chalk and wash, 1943
NPG 6137
by Angus McBean
vintage bromide print, 1949
NPG P1294
by Unknown photographer
bromide postcard print, 1906
NPG x40653
Reginald Beaton; Cecil Beaton; Etty Beaton
by Lallie Charles (née Charlotte Elizabeth Martin)
photogravure reproduction, 1908
NPG x126125
Cecil Beaton with his nanny Alice ('Ninnie') Collard
by Unknown photographer
vintage bromide print, circa 1908
NPG x40654
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1910s
NPG x40410
by Grigg
bromide print on tissue and card mount, circa 1920
NPG x30310
by Hay Wrightson
sepia-toned bromide print on card and tissue mount, 1920s
NPG x30313
by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
bromide print on cream-toned paper, 1920s
NPG x30312
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30322
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30323
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30324
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30325
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30326
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30327
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30328
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30329
by Peter North
cream-toned bromide print on page mount, 1920s
NPG x30330
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print mounted on cream and black card, early 1920s
NPG x40412
probably by Cecil Beaton
sepia-toned bromide print, 1922
NPG x40668
probably by Cecil Beaton
sepia-toned bromide print, 1922
NPG x40669
probably by Cecil Beaton
sepia-toned bromide print, 1922
NPG x40670
probably by Cecil Beaton
sepia-toned bromide print, 1922
NPG x40671
by Cecil Beaton
vintage bromide print on three tinted card mounts, circa 1924
NPG x30309
by Marian Lewis
matte bromide print on tissue and card mount, circa 1924
NPG x30311
by Bassano
whole-plate glass negative, 16 January 1925
NPG x127868
by Bassano
whole-plate glass negative, 16 January 1925
NPG x127869
by Bassano
whole-plate glass negative, 16 January 1925
NPG x127870
Cecil Beaton in 'All the Vogue'
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36720
Cecil Beaton in 'All the Vogue'
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36714
Cecil Beaton in 'All the Vogue'
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36715
Cecil Beaton in 'All the Vogue'
by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate glass negative, 1925
NPG x36718
by Maurice Beck and Helen Macgregor
cream-toned vintage bromide print, 1927
NPG x40415
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, October 1927
NPG x40409
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print, circa 1928
NPG x20034
by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49751
by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49754
by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
whole-plate film negative, 14 June 1928
NPG x49755
by Curtis Moffat
bromide print, circa 1928
NPG x40414
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print on card mount with green tint, circa 1928
NPG x30316
by Curtis Moffat, and Olivia Wyndham
bromide print on grey mount with red tint, circa 1928
NPG x30315
by Bert Longworth
vintage contact print from 10 x 8 inch negative, 1930s
NPG x40537
by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene
vintage bromide print, 1930
NPG x40421
by Associated Press
bromide press print, circa 1930
NPG x40656
Cecil Beaton; Sibyl (née Halsey), Lady Colefax
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 1930s
NPG x40657
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
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