Cecil Beaton
Cecil Beaton was born in Hampstead, London, on 14th January 1904. He made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Britain and beyond throughout a large part of the twentieth century. He was a photographer, painter, illustrator, designer, writer and socialite.
Born into the family of a wealthy merchant, he attended Harrow School where he developed a passion for both photography and social advancement which, combined with his natural talent for aesthetics, subsequently propelled him to the heights of fame. As a prominent member of the ‘Bright Young Things’ during the 1920s – a set he had purposefully adopted – Beaton photographed a generation of glitzy young socialites and artists with a unique style. His sparkling photographs provide a fascinating record of this enduringly popular group, but his ambition was not satisfied. In the late 1920s, he headed for Hollywood and New York, working for Condé Nast as a portrait and fashion photographer, and quickly created both a formidable reputation, and an international demand for his work.
After the Second World War, during which he worked as a photographer for the Ministry of Information, Beaton continued as before, albeit altering his style to fit with changing times. He also earned acclaim for his costume designs, winning Oscars for Gigi in 1957 and My Fair Lady in 1964. Beaton’s brilliant eye, theatrical persona, ruthless ambition and addiction to social advancement kept him in work for over six decades. He died at Reddish House, Broad Chalk, Wiltshire, on 18th January 1980.
