Saturday 7th until Saturday 21st September 2013

Michael Ward took his first professional photographs of motoring legend Stirling Moss – using Moss’ own camera! – and went on to enjoy an incredible career.

In 1963 he was asked to cover ‘A Day In The Life’ of an up-and-coming band called The Beatles. The resultant images went on to become – and remain – an unique record of the band that changed the world; he published many of the images in a book of the same name. Images from this shoot are included in the Rope Store Gallery showing.

For thirty years, Ward was connected with the Sunday Times and he travelled the world covering, as he put it himself, “War, riots, cat shows, Beauty Contests and back to Show Business”. He estimated that he covered over five thousand assignments! Well known also for his touching photobook ‘Mostly Women’, he also exhibited internationally and at venues including National Theatre and the National Portrait Gallery.

Michael Ward died in 2011. The work on show at the Rope Store Gallery will include iconic images of stars such as Rudolf Nureyev, Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor, Gina Lollobrigida & Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier, Glenda Jackson, Helen Mirren and more.