Adrian Flowers

Adrian John Flowers (11 July 1926 – 18 May 2016) was a British photographer known for his portraits of celebrities that included Twiggy, Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and Vanessa Redgrave.

Self-portrait.

Early life

Flowers was educated at Sherborne School, Dorset, the son of a former Indian Army officer. His mother was a Christian Scientist.^[1]

Career

Flowers took exams at the Institute of British Photography in 1950 and set up a studio in Dover Street the same year.^[1] He later had a studio in Tite Street, Chelsea.^[2] He was known for his advertising work, particularly for Benson & Hedges cigarettes,^[3] and also for his portraits of celebrities that included Twiggy, Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and Vanessa Redgrave.^[1][2]

Flowers' assistants included Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy,^[2] and Chris Killip.^[4]

Family

Flowers married Angela Holland, who established Angela Flowers Gallery in 1970 in London. They had four children: Adam, Matthew, Dan and Francesca.^[2] Matthew Flowers^[1] is the contemporary art dealer who now runs Flowers Gallery. In 1985, Adrian Flowers married a second time to Francoise Lina, a French conference interpreter, and they lived until his death in southwest France.^[2]