Iain McKell

Updated on Oct 30, 2023

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Name Iain McKell		Role Photographer

Books The New Gypsies, Fashion Forever: 30 years of subculture

International photographer iain mckell talks about his new book

Iain McKell is a fashion, portrait and social documentary photographer whose work has been published in L'uomo Vogue, i-D and The Face.

Iain McKell Iain McKell photographs horsedrawn travelers across

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Biography

Iain McKell Iain Mckell The New Gypsies denisellanera

McKell grew up in Weymouth and began working as a seaside photographer aged 19. He later studied graphic design at the Exeter College of Art and Design before moving to London in 1979 to work as a designer. He held an exhibition in his own studio in 1984 entitled 'Iain McKell LIVE'. In this event members of the public were invited to witness McKell at work, he photographed members of The Comic Strip and many of the visitors. This was followed in 1985 by an open workshop in The Photographers' Gallery, showing his work and a documentary film about the previous year. The success of these events led McKell to work on advertising campaigns for Smirnoff and Red Stripe.

McKell has been photographing various subcultures since the 1980s, he initially shot skinheads and has since documented various other subcultures, including Punks, Blitz Kids, and Rockabillies. McKell has also spent over ten years befriending and photographing a group of New Age Travellers. The result of this project was the publication of a book and various exhibitions, he also went on to collaborate with Kate Moss for V Magazine Kate moss travelled with McKell and spent time with the travellers taking photos etc. .