Jane Bown, photographer

Jane Bown was born in Dorset, and educated at William Gibbs School, Faversham. She became a chart corrector for the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) from 1944-46 before studying photography at Guildford School of Art, Surrey from 1946-50.

She joined the Observer in January 1949 and her first published work for the paper - a portrait of Bertrand Russell - was printed the same month.

From 1964 to 1967 she worked in colour for the newly launched Observer Colour Magazine but disliked it and returned to working predominantly in black and white.

Her extensive photojournalism output includes series on gypsies, Greenham Common evictions, and in 2002, the Glastonbury Festival. Her sitters include Queen Elizabeth II, Jean Cocteau, Samuel Beckett, Woody Allen, John Betjeman, Jayne Mansfield and the Beatles.

Her exhibitions include 'The Gentle Eye', National Portrait Gallery, London (1980-1); 'Rock: 1963-2003', The Newsroom, London (2003), 'Unknown Bown', The Newsroom (2007). Group shows include 'How We Are - Photographing Britain, Tate Britain, London, (2007). Publications include 'The Gentle Eye' (1980), 'Women of Consequence' (1986), 'Men of Consequence' (1987), 'The Singular Cat' (1988), 'Pillars of the Church' (1991), 'Faces: The Creative process Behind Great Portraits (2000), 'Rock: 1963-2003' (2003) and 'Unknown Bown' (2007).

Bown was awarded an MBE in 1985 and became a CBE in 1995.

From the guide to the The Jane Bown Collection, c1940-2010, (Guardian News & Media Archive)