Search the Collection

Cecil Beaton

(1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer

Sitter associated with 360 portraits
Artist associated with 1114 portraits
Cecil Beaton was one of the leading British photographers of the twentieth century. Beaton's early studio portraits of debutantes and celebrities often involved elaborate theatrical backdrops, and helped define the image of the 'Bright young thing'. Beaton was also an acclaimed designer for film and the stage, including My Fair Lady (1956), the musical based on George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. He won three Oscars for costume and art direction for the film version of My Fair Lady (1965) and for Gigi (1958). A major retrospective of Beaton's portraits in 1968 was the first exhibition the National Portrait Gallery had devoted to a photographer.

More on Beaton: Cecil Beaton's Bright Young Things

10 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

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

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Baba Beaton; Cecil Beaton, by Associated Press - NPG x40656

Baba Beaton; Cecil Beaton

by Associated Press
bromide press print, circa 1930
NPG x40656

Cecil Beaton, possibly by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene - NPG x40422

Cecil Beaton

possibly by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene
bromide print, 1930
NPG x40422

Cecil Beaton, by Marquis of Haddow - NPG x30314

Cecil Beaton

by Marquis of Haddow
bromide textured print in a cream card mount, 1930
NPG x30314

Cecil Beaton, by Harlip - NPG x40526

Cecil Beaton

by Harlip
bromide glossy print, 1930s
NPG x40526

Cecil Beaton, by Harlip - NPG x40425

Cecil Beaton

by Harlip
bromide glossy print, 1930s
NPG x40425

Cecil Beaton, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40436

Cecil Beaton

by Cecil Beaton
bromide snapshot print, 1930s
NPG x40436

Cecil Beaton, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40437

Cecil Beaton

by Unknown photographer
bromide snapshot print, 1930s
NPG x40437

Cecil Beaton, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40438

Cecil Beaton

by Unknown photographer
velox snapshot print, 1930s
NPG x40438

Cecil Beaton and two others, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40683

Cecil Beaton and two others

by Unknown photographer
bromide snapshot print, 1930s
NPG x40683

Cecil Beaton, by Millar & Harris - NPG x40539

Cecil Beaton

by Millar & Harris
glossy bromide print, 1930
NPG x40539

Cecil Beaton; Rex Whistler, by Unknown photographer - NPG x40540

Cecil Beaton; Rex Whistler

by Unknown photographer
bromide snapshot print, 1930s
NPG x40540

Cecil Beaton, by Harlip - NPG x40426

Cecil Beaton

by Harlip
bromide glossy print, 1930s
NPG x40426

Cecil Beaton, possibly by Cecil Beaton, possibly by  Baron George Hoyningen-Huene - NPG x40428

Cecil Beaton

possibly by Cecil Beaton, possibly by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene
bromide print, 1931
NPG x40428

Cecil Beaton, possibly by Cecil Beaton, possibly by  Baron George Hoyningen-Huene - NPG x40427

Cecil Beaton

possibly by Cecil Beaton, possibly by Baron George Hoyningen-Huene
bromide print, 1931
NPG x40427

Cecil Beaton, by Ernest A. Bachrach - NPG x30319

Cecil Beaton

by Ernest A. Bachrach
cream-toned bromide print on card mount, 1932
NPG x30319

Cecil Beaton, by Ernest A. Bachrach - NPG x30318

Cecil Beaton

by Ernest A. Bachrach
cream-toned bromide print on card mount, 1932
NPG x30318

Cecil Beaton, by Ernest A. Bachrach - NPG x30317

Cecil Beaton

by Ernest A. Bachrach
cream-toned bromide print on card and ruled mount, 1932
NPG x30317

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.