Search the Collection

Horace Ové

(1939-2023), Film-maker and photographer

Sir Horace Shango Ové

Sitter in 1 portrait
Artist of 13 portraits
Born in Trinidad in 1939, Ové was known as one of the leading black film-makers to emerge in London in the post-war period, achieving worldwide recognition for his feature films Pressure (1976), about growing up in West London in the 1970s, and Playing Away (1986), which describes the experiences of a Brixton-based cricket team. As well as his film work, Ové documented, as a photographer, Britain's black diaspora community and the birth and development of Notting Hill Carnival over 40 years. He uniquely chronicled the leading figures emerging from the black community in the fields of art and politics. He was appointed CBE in 2007 and knighted in 2022.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

David Medalla, by Horace Ové - NPG x126735

David Medalla

by Horace Ové
giclée print, 1960s
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x126735

Michael X, by Horace Ové - NPG x126731

Michael X

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 1966
NPG x126731

Marsha Hunt, by Horace Ové - NPG x126726

Marsha Hunt

by Horace Ové
giclée print, 1968
NPG x126726

Ulric Cross, by Horace Ové - NPG x126725

Ulric Cross

by Horace Ové
giclée print, 2002
NPG x126725

Errol Lloyd, by Horace Ové - NPG x126729

Errol Lloyd

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2002
NPG x126729

Georgina Masson, by Horace Ové - NPG x126730

Georgina Masson

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2002
NPG x126730

Michael Abbensetts, by Horace Ové - NPG x126724

Michael Abbensetts

by Horace Ové
giclée print, 2003
NPG x126724

Isaac Julien, by Horace Ové - NPG x126727

Isaac Julien

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2003
NPG x126727

Kwame Kwei-Armah, by Horace Ové - NPG x126728

Kwame Kwei-Armah

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2003
NPG x126728

Derek Walcott, by Horace Ové - NPG x126732

Derek Walcott

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2003
NPG x126732

Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos of Brondesbury, by Horace Ové - NPG x126734

Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos of Brondesbury

by Horace Ové
giclée colour print, 2004
NPG x126734

Web image not currently available

Ulric Cross

by Horace Ové
giclée print, 2002
On display in Room 27 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x126725a

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

Jo Tulloch

03 June 2022, 20:39

Horace Ove was often an attentive presence at demonstrations in support of the black community. He photographed the 1970 demo against police harassment, in support of the Mangrove cafe in All Saints Road, W11, at which the police charged demonstrators and then accused nine of them of riot - a very serious charge. (The subsequent trial of the Mangrove 9 at the Old Bailey and their acquittal has been immortalised by Steve McQueen, the British-Trinidadian film maker, whose portrayal "Mangrove" was shown on BBC1 in November 2020 as part of the Small Axe series.) Horace has achieved a huge amount, not only through his photography but also his 35+ films. He really deserves his knighthood!

Annabelle Alcazar

19 April 2022, 10:00

He received a knighthood in this years honour list!