Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
(1892-1974), PhotographerArtist associated with 43 portraits
Educated at Tonbridge School and Queen's College Cambridge where he became interested in photography. Served as an apprentice with the Sevenoaks photographer H. Essenhigh Corke. Moved to London in 1912 and set up as a portrait photographer under the professional name of Hugh Cecil. His photographs appeared regularly in the Sketch and Tatler. His early style was characterised by an elegant simplicity. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) sat for him in 1925, the first of many royal sittings. Published his Book of Beauty in 1926. With his well-established success Cecil turned to 'inventions'. His pupils Paul Tanqueray and Angus McBean actually took many of his photographs.
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
vintage cream-toned bromide print, 1925
NPG P503
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
sepia bromide print, 1936
NPG P136
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
vintage bromide print, mid-late 1910s
NPG x46605
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 25 June 1914
NPG x194075
Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 1920s
NPG x8037
Albert Henry Stanley, Baron Ashfield
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
vintage bromide print, 1920s
NPG x133276
Lady Alexandra Henrietta Louisa Haig (later Alexandra Trevor-Roper, Lady Dacre)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print on card mount, 1920s
NPG x182270
(Alexander) Matheson Lang as Silvio Steno in 'Carnival'
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders), published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1921
NPG x200173
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 1923-1934
NPG x136020
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
whole-plate glass negative, circa 1925
NPG x27879
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
cream-toned matte print, circa 1925
NPG x39232
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
cream-toned matte print, circa 1925
NPG x39233
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide postcard print, 1925
NPG x193298
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 13 June 1928
NPG x193464
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1930
NPG x27885
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1930
NPG x27886
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1930
NPG x27887
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
cream-toned matte bromide print on cream mount, 1930s
NPG x5757
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1935
NPG x27880
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1935
NPG x27881
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1935
NPG x27882
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1935
NPG x27883
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
glass negative, circa 1935
NPG x27884
Minoru Foley (née Greenstone), Lady Foley
by Bassano Ltd, after Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
half-plate glass negative, 22 July 1947 (circa 1935)
NPG x79620
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 28 October 1938
NPG x134472
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders), for Topical Press
bromide print, 28 October 1938
NPG x135726
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, circa 1938
NPG x136691
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, May 1940
NPG x136706
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
half-plate negative, circa 1942
NPG x71198
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, circa 1942
NPG x136704
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 1945
NPG x136705
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print, 1945
NPG x136707
Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x28388
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136708
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136709
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136710
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136711
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136712
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136713
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136714
by Hugh Cecil (Hugh Cecil Saunders)
bromide print
NPG x136715
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Mike James
20 June 2016, 10:32
I had a Neon Sign factory in Birmingham. Hugh worked with me to produced photographic signs which replicated a neon sign by using 'flared' slightly out of focus letters. We sold a few but the process was copied by others. This was at the tail end of his career but even so he was bright as a button. I understand that the first stamps, using photographs, were done by him. I went to his studio once and was amazed at the massive cameras he used. I also met his colleagues who seemed a bit down in the dumps! Hugh was a very strong character.