Nick Elliott

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Nick Elliott rock art photographer 2021
Nick Elliott rock art photographer 2021

Nick Elliott is an English rock art photographer best known for his black and white images[1][2][3][4] of some of the world's well-known musicians.[5] Described as "one of the world's leading rock and music photographers"[6] his work has been likened to Bob Gruen, Mick Rock, Henry Diltz, Jenny Lens and Anton Corbijn[7] and his images have been featured on album artwork and in the media.[8]

Biography[]

Internationally renowned rock art photographer Nick Elliott, has transcended a desirable reputation for producing powerful iconic pieces of photographic art in his own inimitable avant-garde style.

Nick successful vocational journey started in editorial and advertising photography. He was sought after and commissioned by reputable London fashion and advertising agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, TBWA, Yellowhammer, O & M, Young and Rubicon, GGT, Carlson Direct, MSBK, Publicis, Coca-Cola, British Telecom, British Airways, Walt Disney, Lloyds TSB, Sheraton hotels and Jaguar.

Nicks photographic artwork has earned him several prestigious awards. Recognitions include 3rd placement in the Euro Best Advertising Awards 1990, and an eminent award for images produced for the 1992 Liberal Democrat General Election Campaign.

Nick has devoted his artistic and creative talent to specialising in the music industry, photographing some of the most iconic music artists in the business. For 11 years, Nick enjoyed the position of official rock photographer for both Planet Rock Radio and The O2 arena London. He had the privilege to work with over 300 mainstream music artists and rock bands, including Motörhead, Metallica, ZZ Top, Debbie Harry, Ozzy Osbourne, The Who, Def Leppard, The Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Robert Plant, and Earl Slick. Nick’s images have been extensively published in many well respected music publications including Classic Rock, Get Rhythm, Kerrang, Sound and Fatea magazines. Music agencies Darla FR, Music Pictures and Wire Images have also procured Nick’s art for national tabloid publications. His images have frequently been featured on album artwork and published extensively across the media for over 35 years. Nick’s creations are in high demand as Limited edition bespoke fine art originals and prints. They continue to be exhibited in galleries across UK, Europe and USA.

In June 2015, a worlds first exhibition, ‘Size Matters’ held at Cholmondely Castle Cheshire, hosted a unique collection of Nick’s oversized rock images. It was visited by over 75,000 people, and viewed online by 1.5 million people worldwide. It continues to be critically acclaimed by media and TV as a resounding successful worlds first. Nick has produced numerous fine art coffee table books crammed with hundreds of breathtaking rock images that continue to be a source of influential reference for the rock industry.

Nick’s debut book ‘TEN’, a decade in images, was released in 2011. Further publications from Elliott studios followed with ‘50 Folk’ (2014), celebrating 50 years of the legendary Cambridge folk festival, ‘Three Weeks One Summer’ (2015) a pictorial documentation of The Marmalade, and ‘Ice Cream And Suncream’ (2016) dedicated to Nick’s late father. Nick continues to produce fine art coffee table books for the discerning collector. His individual rockumentary projects with Earl Slick and Ed Graham depict a collection of candid and professional images captured over a period of four years, have been produced into highly sought-after publications. Further publications in Nick’s ongoing rockumentary series continue to be produced.

Nicks professional achievements are in no way limited to the world of still photography. During 2020 Nick began to develop his film creativity and has produced, written and directed several music video videos and film shorts for submission to mainstream film award festivals.

Nick has been involved with many successful radio and podcast productions and can be regularly heard guesting on shows for Endeavour radio FM, Siren FM and CMR Nashville Radio. His own radio show ‘A Night In With Nick Elliott’, has amassed thousands of regular listeners that tune in for the American mellow playlist.

Nicks personally designed apparel range was successfully launched eight years ago.

Nick’s current projects are a step away from the rock music industry. Several conceptional dark art projects, set to amaze and shock its audiences, are a series of pictorial autobiographical fine art images depicting the tormented and ravaged mind of Elliott, inspired by a cascade of personal events that shaped him during a traumatic time in his life. These images will be exhibited in selected galleries worldwide and produced in a XXX explicit fine art publication.

Nick’s genius in the studio and his ability to capture the intensity of the live music performance, makes him one of the worlds most revered rock art photographers of all time. Driven by his incredible passion and the desire to create breathtaking images of the musical artists who have been his inspiration, exposing the very essence of the performers inner most soul in a way that no other can. Nick continues to produce thought-provoking, contemporary collections of photographic fine art that will continue to play a paramount role in photographic history.

Early life[]

Born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, Nick grew up and was schooled in Stanground[9] before leaving to pursue a career as an editorial photographer with East Midlands Daily Press (EMAP) newspapers The Peterborough Evening Telegraph and The Peterborough Advertiser.[10]

After completing training in editorial photography, Elliott moved on to work in the Magazine Division in the EMAP group shooting for titles including: Anglian Times, Motor Cycle News[11] and Motor Cycle Racing.[12]

He left EMAP to pursue a freelance[9] career and continued in editorial photography and was commissioned by International Publishing Corporation (IPC) for Truck Magazine, Car Magazine, and Auto Car,[10] alongside EMAP and other media and publishing houses.[3]

During this time, Elliott also shot royal and celebrity stories including the Queen, Princess Anne, the Duke of Bedford, Barry Sheene's win of the world 500cc Motorcycle Championship and Dave 'Boy' Greene's British Heavyweight title attempt.[9]

Advertising[]

After a successful career in editorial photography, Elliott's career moved onto working in creative advertising and was commissioned by London agencies such as; Saatchi & Saatchi, Yellow Hammer, Carlson, Young & Rubican,[3] GGT, Ogilvy & Mather, MSBK and Publicis.[13]

During this period he shot many major above and below-the-line campaigns for blue-chip companies and brands such as Jaguar, Marlboro Cigarettes,[4] Coca-Cola, British Airways, Walt Disney,[14] Lloyds TSB Bank, British Telecom, and Sheraton Hotels.[13][2]

In 1990, Elliott won 3rd in Euro Best Advertising Awards with Publicis' campaign 'If You're Not Feeling Too Special' for Sonatogen[11] and, after shooting Prime Minister John Major in 1991, was commissioned by TBWA to photograph the 1992 UK general election billboard campaign for the Liberal Democrats[3] depicting the message 'light at the end of the tunnel'.[15][16]

Rock music[]

Elliott's first encounter with shooting rock music professionally came early in his career when he photographed Trapeze[12] for the Peterborough Evening Telegraph[10] when the band performed in his home-town of Peterborough in 1973.

After Elliott's work in music photography became increasingly in demand[17] he went on to specialise in that area.

Elliott has photographed: Alice Cooper, Amy Winehouse, Bill Wyman, Blondie, Bob Geldof, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Garbage, Idlewild, Motorhead, Metallica, Nickelback, Ozzy Osborne, Robert Plant, Roy Wood, Saxon, Status Quo, The Blockeads, Thin Lizzy, ZZ Top.[18]

In 2010, Elliott received a call from his agent in the USA booking him for a shoot at the Country Music Association (CMA) awards which took him to Nashville, Tennessee[19][12] and he also became official photographer for The O2 Arena in London and Planet Rock radio station.[20]

Much of Elliott's work has included photo-documentaries with Earl Slick, Mike Harding, Planet Rock, and most recently the recording of Ed Graham, former drummer and founding member of The Darkness, personal and professional life since leaving the band in 2014.

Published work[]

Elliott's images have been published extensively in the media[20] and licensed for use in CD covers, promotional material and live performances[6] with commissions by record companies, record labels and independent music artists, and his work has been exhibited in throughout the UK, Europe, and the USA.[21][22]

In 2011, Elliott was approached by specialist music book publisher Rufus Stone[23] and released his debut book, TEN-A Decade In Images of his favourite images from ten years of the legendary Cambridge Folk Festival.[24] It was officially endorsed by the folk festival organisers Cambridge City Council[25] and included quote by some of the musicians featured in its pages such as Richard Hawley, Fairport Convention, John Tams, The Levellers, and Steve Earle.

Elliott went on to release a follow-up book, 50Folk[26] as a personal celebration of 50 years of the festival in 2014 and a year later released third book, Three Weeks One Summer,[13] documenting the pop band The Marmalade during the making of their Penultimate project of a CD, DVD, and vinyl record with promotional booklet all shot by Elliott[27]

A fourth book, Ice Cream & Sun Cream, was released in 2017[28] and was entered for an award at the Vienna Photo Book Festival.[29]

TV, radio, and film[]

In 2013, Elliott was invited to have a starring role, appearing as himself, in a music video for singer Gary Curtis' single Crazy Love[30] and also made a cameo appearance alongside singer Anne Nolan, actress Sally Geeson, and actors Paul Barber and Brian Murphy in Curtis' video for If Every Day Was Like Christmas.[31] Both videos were filmed at the legendary Pinewood Studios.

Elliott guested in a short film, The Guardian, by Aturn Films[32] in 2015 and in the same year made a further cameo appearance in music video Why by Gary Curtis and Anne Nolan.[33] A further appearance in Curtis' All Alone At Christmas alongside Gary Ashburn, Sally Geeson, and Jerome Blake followed in 2015,[34] which was also filmed at Pinewood.

In 2016, Elliott made two different cameo appearances in Ed Graham's Puppets To The Supreme Commander video for their single Pagan Xmas.[35][36]

After numerous interviews in the media about his work and career, Elliott was invited to co-host a specialist rock show, Tracks of Nick's Years, on community radio station Endeavour FM, which ran for 7 episodes from in 2014.[37] The following year Elliott's radio show Sound And Nick's Vision began airing on the award-winning radio station Siren FM.[38]

Exhibited work[]

  • 1973: Photographed rock band Trapeze for The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
  • 1975~1979: Editorial photographer for East Midlands Allied Press magazines, Anglian Times, Motorcycle News, and Motorcycle Racing.
  • 1979~1981: Freelance in Editorial Photography, commissioned by Truck Magazine, Car Magazine, Auto Car, and other publishing houses.
  • 1981: Set up own business Nick Elliott Photographic.
  • 1975~1997: Royal and celebrity shoots including HRH The Queen, Princess Anne, Duke of Bedford, Dave ‘boy’ Greene’s British Heavyweight title attempt and Barry Sheene’s win at the world 500cc motorcycle championships.
  • 1971~1975: Editorial photographer for East Midland Allied Press newspapers, The Peterborough Evening Telegraph and The Peterborough Advertiser.
  • 1984~1997: Independently commissioned by London Agencies including, Saatchi & Saatchi, Yellow Hammer, Carlson, Young & Rubicon, GGT, Ogilvy & Mather, MSBK, Publicis. During this period he shot many major above and below-the-line campaigns for blue-chip companies and brands including Jaguar, Marlboro Cigarettes, Coca-Cola, British Airways, Walt Disney, Lloyds TSB Bank, British Telecom and Sheraton Hotels.
  • 1990: Won 3rd in Euro Best Advertising Awards with Publicis campaign titled ‘If you’re not feeling too special’ for Sanatogen.
  • 1991: Commissioned by Commercial Industrial Magazine to shoot Prime Minister, Sir John Major.
  • 1992: Independently commissioned by TBWA to photograph the UK General Election billboard campaign for the Liberal Democrats, depicting the message ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’.
  • 1997~present: After Elliott’s continued work in the music photography, he became increasingly in demand and went on to specialise in that area.
  • 2007~2016: Commissioned as official photographer for Planet Rock Radio Station.
  • 2009: ‘Gods Of Rock’ exhibition, Willows Gallery Halstead Essex, featuring Lemmy, Roger Daltry, Ozzy Osbourne, Robert Plant, and Alice Cooper.
  • 2009: ‘Guitar Heroes’ exhibition, Mandells Gallery Norwich Norfolk, featuring Nils Lofgren, Gary Moore, Kerry King, Zac Wile, and Doug Aldridge.
  • 2010: ‘Blues Brothers’ exhibition, Doric Arts Norfolk, featuring Jools Holland, Joe Bonamassa, Seasick Steve, Van Morrison, and John Maile.
  • 2010: ‘Celtic Queens’ exhibition, Storm Fine Art Gallery, Norfolk, featuring Hazel O’Connor, Kerry’s Mathews, Cara Dylan, Karine Polwart, and Eddi Reader.
  • 2010: ‘Gods Of Rock’ exhibition, Studio Gallery Henley-on-Thames.
  • 2010: ‘Gods Of Rock’ exhibition, Mandells Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk.
  • 2010: ‘JustThis Side Of Sane’ exhibition, J Gallery Northamptonshire, featuring various music artists including Joan Jet and Robert Plant.
  • 2010: Commissioned to shoot the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in Nashville Tennessee USA.
  • 2010: Commissioned as official photographer for The O2 Arena, London.
  • 2011: ‘Here Come The Boys’ exhibition, Gallery At The Dome, Worthing, featuring various music artists including The Levellers, and Ozzy Osbourne.
  • 2011: ‘Guitar Heroes’ exhibition, St Paul’s Gallery, Birmingham.
  • 2011: ‘UK Tour’ exhibition, Studio Gallery, Henley-on-Thames, featuring a combination of Gods Of Rock, Guitar Heroes and unseen images.
  • 2011: ‘UK Tour’ exhibition, Aubrey Art Gallery, Essex, featuring a combination of ‘Gods Of Rock’, ‘Guitar Heroes’ and unseen Images.
  • 2011: ‘UK Tour’ exhibition, The Barge Gallery, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
  • 2011: ‘Guitar Heroes’ exhibition, Muchos Cuadros Hockley Nottingham.
  • 2011: Publication of ‘Ten-A Decade In Images’, Nicks first book, published by Rufus Stone Publications, presented in a flight case.
  • 2011: Publication of Nicks second book ‘A Decade In Images’, published by Rufus Stone Publications and limited to 250 copies worldwide.
  • 2012: ‘Festival Of Colours’ exhibition, Storm Fine Art, Norfolk. Abstract images of Blues and Roots.
  • 2012: ‘Rock, Art, And Wine’ exhibition (RAW), Chateau Les Carrabses, France. Including images of Beverly Knight, Lemmy, Nils Lofgren, Mettalica, Iron Maiden and Glen Hughes.
  • 2014: Publication of ‘50 Folk’, Nicks images celebrating 50 years of the legendary Cambridge Folk Festival, in a 132 page hardback Fine Art book.
  • 2015: ‘Size Matters’ exhibition at Cholmondeley Castle, Cheshire. Worlds first exhibition of its kind, visited by over 75,000 people and 1.5 million online views.Featuring images of Justin Hawkins, Glen Hughes, Jim Kerr, Skin, Beverly Knight, and Nils Lofgren.
  • 2015: Publication of ‘3 Weeks One Summer’, a pictorial documentation of The Marmalade, presented in a 132 page hardback limited edition fine art book.
  • 2015~present: Commencement of Rockumentary Projects. Up close and personal, individual projects with Earl Slick, Ed Graham, Jon Peach, and Dead Reynolds, depict a collection of candid and professional images for book publication.
  • 2016: Publication of ‘Ice Cream And Suncream’, a pictorial documentation of Norfolk landscapes as seen through the eyes of an 8 year old boy. The book was dedicated to Nick late father, Gordon Elliott. Presented in a 166 page Soft back limited edition fine art book.
  • 2016~present: Active fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer Action, via image sales and the ‘One Roll’ project, featuring a collection of celebrity portraits, displayed in a fine art book.
  • 2017~present: Dark Art collection, featuring a collection of conceptual images depicting the tormented and ravaged mind of Elliott. For gallery exhibition worldwide and produced in a XXX explicit fine art publication.
  • 2019~2020: A collection of North Nofolk landscapes/seascapes displayed at Fine Line Frames And Gallery, Creake Abbey, Norfolk.
  • 2020~present: A collection of North Norfolk landscapes/seascapes displayed at The Enchanted Plaza Hunstanton Norfolk.
  • 2020~present: Virtual exhibition of Nicks Rock photography and other fine art collections..filmed by Aturn Film Production, for release at selected galleries and media platforms.
  • 2020~present: ‘The Story So Far’, directed and filmed by Aturn Films. A feature length documentary exploring Nick Elliott life. For release on Amazon prime, Netflix, terrestrial TV, and selected cinemas across UK.
  • 2020~present: ‘One Roll’ project, collection of celebrity portraits, displayed in a fine art publication. Sales to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer Action UK.
  • 2020~present: ‘2 Go Mad In Norfolk’, filmed by Aturn Films, starring Andy Blithe, and Nick Elliott. For terrestrial TV distribution.
  • 2021~present: Rock Photographers Collective, clothing and memorabilia range. Exclusive images from Nick Elliotts archive represent him at RPC. Worldwide sales.
  • 2021~present: UK TO USA Tour, Nicks 1st USA Tour.

Music video, film and TV appearances[]

  • 2010: Anglia TV, Interview
  • 2010: BBC/ITV, Interview
  • 2015: ‘The Guardian’, feature film from Aturn Films. Portrayed himself in a cameo roll
  • 2015~2019: Gary Curtis Christmas Music Videos. - Alone at Christmas - If Every Christmas - Crazy - Curtistein Played cameo rolls in each production, with a host of other celebrities.
  • 2017: Mustard TV, Interview.
  • 2017~2018: Collection of short films. Comedy shorts starring Will Ferguson, and Ed Graham.
  • 2018: ‘John Constantine's Demons’, directed by Adrian Silas, short film for film submission. Portrayed himself in a starring roll.
  • 2018~2020: Mirror Twins, short comedy sketch shows broadcast on YouTube, with Will Ferguson.
  • 2020~present: ‘2 Go Mad In Norfolk’, filmed by Aturn Films, for broadcast on terrestrial TV,Amazon Prime, and selected social media platforms. Travel/magazine/light entertainment show, starring Andy Blithe, and Nick Elliott.
  • 2021: Cameo roll as a photographer in Hollywood production, ‘SPENCER’, starring Kirsten Stewart, Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, and Jack Farthing. Directed by Pablo Larrain.

Radio Shows[]

  • 2015: ‘Tracks Of Nicks Years’, Endevour FM. Recorded at Boston Studios UK
  • 2016~present: ‘Sound And Nicks Vision’, Siren FM. Recorded at Lincoln Studios UK
  • 2016~present: ‘A Night In With Nick Elliott’. Podcast recorded at Ashwood Studios, Norwich UK.

Bibliography[]

  • 2011: TEN-A Decade In Images (Rufus Stone Publications)
  • 2014: 50Folk ISBN 9781320352857
  • 2015: Three Weeks One Summer ISBN 9781366441300
  • 2017: Ice Cream & Sun Cream ISBN 9781366421609

References[]

  1. ^ "Norwich Rocks!". Fine City Magazine: 36. July 2010.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Pochin, Courtney (2 June 2016). "My life as a rock photographer". Eastern Daily Press.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Spotlight on photographer to the rock stars, Nick Elliott". Norfolk On My Mind. January: 12. January 2008.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b CAT (September 2010). "Fine Interview". Fine City Magazine. September: 46.
  5. ^ "Gods of Rock at Gallery". Henley Standard. April 2010.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Win a unique Nickelback print!". Kerrang!. September 2005.
  7. ^ Higgins, Gina (3 April 2016). "SHOOT TO THRILL - NICK ELLIOTT ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER". American Noir. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  8. ^ "Win An Exclusive Rock Star Photo Print". Planet Rock Radio. July 2010.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Clark, Paul (March 2002). "Rutland Times". Rutland Times.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c Genever, Charley (Sep 2015). "Spotlight on Nick Elliott". Peterborough Presents.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Williams, Howard (Feb 2002). "A Day In The Life of a Rock Photographer". The Style Magazine Lincolnshire: 15.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Green, Sean (July 2011). "TCR Ireland Radio". TCR Ireland Radio.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c Oswin, Julie (March 2016). "Nick Elliott rock photographer". The Guild of Photographers' Creative Light Magazine. Issue 12: 26.
  14. ^ "Nick Elliott: style and craft and rock 'n' roll..." Kings Lynn Magazine: 89. November 2013.
  15. ^ Hussell, Lesley (21 March 1992). "Shooting A Party Line". Marketing Week.
  16. ^ Arnold, Chris (April 1992). "Follow The Leader". Creative Review.
  17. ^ CAT (June 2009). "The Finest Art In Music Photography". Norfolk On My Mind. June.
  18. ^ "The Mustard Show". Mustard TV. 4 Feb 2015.
  19. ^ "No Sleep In Nashville". Fine City Magazine. December 2010.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Lazzari, Adam (December 2012). "Capturing Legends of Rock Music". Eastern Daily Press.
  21. ^ "Nick Elliott: Style and craft and rock 'n' roll". Kings Lynn Magazine. November: 90. November 2013.
  22. ^ Stein, Barry (November 2012). "Nick Elliott - Shooting Rock 'n' Roll". The Rhythmic Lounge. Fall: 50–51.
  23. ^ "Sue Marchant's Big Night In". BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. June 2011.
  24. ^ McLaren, DJ (29 July 2011). "BBC Look East". BBC Look East.
  25. ^ Havergal, Chris (May 2011). "Book puts festival in the frame". Cambridge News.
  26. ^ Barnard, Emma (May 2015). "Rocking The World of Folk". KL Magazine. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  27. ^ "Rocking out on the North Norfolk coast". Lynn News. 17 September 2013.
  28. ^ Betts, Marc (2 March 2017). "Norfolk rocks! Photographer of the stars puts county in frame with new book". North Norfolk News. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  29. ^ Edges, Tracey (19 March 2017). "Sunday Girl Book Review". Siren FM.
  30. ^ "Crazy Love". Ivory Tower Entertainment.
  31. ^ "If Every Day Was Like Christmas". Ivory Tower Entertainment.
  32. ^ Kate, Prout (8 September 2015). "ITV Anglia News".
  33. ^ "Why". Ivory Tower Entertainment.
  34. ^ "All Alone At Christmas". Ivory Tower Entertainments.
  35. ^ Puppets To The Supreme Commander. "Pagan Xmas". YouTube.com.
  36. ^ Puppets To The Supreme Commander. "Behind The Scenes of 'Pagan Xmas'".
  37. ^ "Tracks of Nick's Years". Deep Red Radio.
  38. ^ "Sound And Nick's Vision". Southside Broadcasting.

External links[]

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