David Bailey

The photographer David Bailey needs little in the way of introduction.

A love of natural history at an early age, along with undiagnosed dyslexia, led him to discover photography.

In 1959 he became photographic assistant at the John French Studio and then in 1960 he was photographer for John Cole's Five Studio, before being contracted as a fashion photographer for British Vogue Magazine later that year. The rest as they say is history.

Along with Terrence Donovan and Brian Duffy, David Bailey capture the 'Swinging Sixties' - the evolving pop world of culture, fashion, music and celebrity. Becoming celebrities themselves, they were named 'The Black Trinity' by Norman Parkinson and the film 'Blow up' directed by Michelangelo Antonioni which depicts the life of a London fashion photographer, was inspired by Bailey.

Since then Bailey has enjoyed a six decade career photographing models, musicians, actors and celebrities.

Bailey has been married four times to Rosemary Bramble (1975); Catherine Deneuve (1965); Marie Helvin (1975) and Catherine Dyer (1986).

David Bailey has also created a number of sculptures over the years including cast silver and bronze editions often alongside a new body of photographs, underlining the stark contrast between the two mediums and emphasizing his versatility as an artist.

He says "I'm not saying I'm a sculptor, I just make images. I don't take photographs, I make them. And now I'm making something else."

This Head sculpture by David Bailey was made in 1999 for an exhibition at the Stephanie Hoppen Gallery in October 1999: "A Passion for Dogs" in association with Battersea Dogs Home, sponsored by Dulux.

The exhibition of dog collars consisted of a number of works donated by many high profile people, experts in their own fields, including: Andrew Martin, Anya Hindmarch, Jilly Cooper, Kit Kemp, Lady Palumbo, Maggi Hambling, Nicky Clarke, Phillip Treacy, Vivienne Westwood and David Bailey.

David Bailey's contribution consists of a hand painted leather dog collar around the neck of a hand painted resin head. The resin head is believed to have been modelled on his current wife, Catherine Dyer.

The painted decoration is reminiscent of tribal face painting, similar to that which Bailey has used on his models in the past.

The original Stephanie Hoppen exhibition catalogue accompanies this rare sculpture.