2025
During the 70s and early 80s, Willie Christie worked extensively as a photographer with British Vogue, which included working closely with Grace Coddington (they also married) and the late Liz Tilberis. He went on to shoot 10 Vogue covers and many inside spreads with them. His portfolio includes award-winning advertising campaigns (L’Oréal and Yves St Laurent), fashion and portrait work for international icons (Cary Grant, Grace Jones, Douglas Fairbanks Jnr, Sir John Mills, Catherine Deneuve...) and Rock 'n' Roll album covers and portraits (Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Lou Reed...).
Willie Christie's work has been showcased in Vision Gallery (Arizona), the Little Black Gallery in London, The Ivy, London, and was chosen for the RA's Summer Exhibition 2011. His iconic Mick Jagger portrait of 1969 was selected for the international tour of Les Recontres D'Arles 2010 exhibition.
His work is featured in a wide selection of books including:
Both images that appeared in this book were also exhibited in Taschen’s Stones Exhibition in Los Angeles 2014. Justin de Villeneuve also includes Willie in his top three photographers, alongside Richard Avedon and Bert Stern.
In 1968, whilst (vainly) trying to find a job in the film industry, Willie auditioned for Federico Fellini, only to be told by the great man that he was ‘very beautiful but not experienced enough’. School plays were unsurprisingly not good enough for the great man!
He worked briefly on Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor’s yacht, Kalizma. Mostly cleaning up their Pekinese poo…
The late David Anthony gave him his first job in photography, which decided Willie to continue in that field. Then he spent a year working for Clive Arrowsmith before turning pro in 1970.
He played (mimed) with Roxy Music on Top of The Pops in 1972, substituting for their bass player who had gone missing.
After doing extensive photography for Lady Clare Rendlesham in 1970/71, who opened Yves St Laurent’s first London boutique, he was asked by Clare in 1972 to curate and design the music for Yves St Fashion Couture Show.
In 1977, Willie filmed the opening sequence to ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ for Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals Tour’.
In 1982, Willie started working with a movie camera, writing and directing commercials and music videos such as Pink Floyd's 20-minute video for 'Final Cut' and the first cinema commercial for ‘Medway’ Shoes. He directed over 60 commercials during the next few years. Many of his ads went on to win awards including Creative Circle, Lion, and Clio amongst others.
In 1998, he adapted, filmed, and funded ‘The Whisper’, from a short story by Anton Chekhov starring Michael Gough, Jamie Glover, and fourteen-year-old Emma Pierson. This was shown in festivals around the world and reached the final list for BAFTA’s ‘Best Short Film’ Award.
In 1999, he directed a limited run of ‘Siren’ by David Williamson at London's Grace Theatre.
The launch of Willie Christie’s Limited-Edition Collection in 2011 marked the first time the photographer had delved into his personal archives to showcase work that had not been displayed for over three decades. Following a successful Private View at Sophie Birdwood Gallery, he immediately followed up at 'Eight' in London's City. In December 2011, he held a one-night show in aid of ‘Facing the World’ and has held further Private Views at ‘Sophie Birdwood’ and the critically acclaimed show at The Ivy Club in 2012.
Willie has also given several talks on his work.
In 2013, he designed a BT ArtBox in aid of ChildLine. The box was displayed in a window of Harvey Nichols and stood outside Vogue House for four weeks before being sold to a private buyer.
Over the last few years, his new work - and old - has been showcased in Schon Magazine, Classic Rock, Prog, Russian Vogue, Vivienne Westwood, French Elle, and predominantly in Encens Magazine: The iconic French magazine is focused on fashion as an art form from the perspective of designers rather than trends.
A major spread (20 Pages approx.) appeared in The Unseasonal, a new US Magazine concentrating on ‘unique collaborations with some of the most creative and sought-after personalities in the fields of fashion, contemporary art, and celebrity culture’.
In 2019, Willie shot his first major return to fashion photography after 40 years, by shooting 20 pages for Encens. The work was so well received they asked him to repeat the exercise as soon as allowed post-COVID lockdowns. This they did. To further great success!
In 2019, Fashion and Cultural Historian, Laura McLaws Helms, recruited Willie to talk about his life as a photographer and other things for her ‘Lady’s After Hours’ Podcast.
Prog 2019 Magazine also interviewed him in depth about his work for Pink Floyd.
Willie’s first anthology of his photographic work, ‘Willie Christie a very distinctive style THEN & NOW’, was published by ACC Art Books in 2023.
Willie began writing screenplays in 2001. He currently has FOUR screenplays looking for production. These have all been professionally critiqued and all have received a Green Light (3 x Consider).
To see Willie Christie’s Screenplays/Director’s Reel, contact: willie.christie@me.com
Apart from his film projects, Willie is also in partnership with highly-regarded television production company - STORYVAULT TV - to head up a TV show on Photography. If you are interested in seeing how this works, please contact either Willie or: SAM RICHARDS: sam.richards@storyvault.tv
“Sexy, polished, and subtly sinister, his photo archive is to die for.” – The London Times
“Although Christie's work is incredibly slick and its prevailing focus is upon the glamour models and celebrities of his era, it contains a beguiling otherness that travels far beyond the fashion sphere and poses questions about reality, identity, and artifice.” – AnOther Magazine
“Perhaps the most astonishing thing about Willie Christie is that his career as a fashion photographer spans little more than a decade.”
“His portfolio is littered with Iconic images…”
“Despite the breadth of subjects, a fascination with artifice is the common glossy thread that runs through. Lighting is crucial to his approach…” – Huffington Post
“Willie’s work with Grace Coddington was one of the great personal and professional partnerships of its time…” – Resident Magazine 2011
“Few pioneers in fashion photography stand out as artists rather than just image capturers. Willie Christie is one of them.”
“Willie Christie was responsible for some of the most memorable glamour images in the mid-70s and early 80s.”
“His carefully constructed images place his subjects in all too perfect frames that leave a surreal and at times almost sinister aftertaste.”
“It is interesting you say that because your lighting creates kind of a dreamscape – something reaching for the sublime that isn’t quite human.”
“There is a sense of telling a story in some of your portraiture. How do you approach your subjects?” – AnOther Magazine
“Innovatingly lit and offering a cinematic edge.” – Nowness 2011
“It is a total mystery how you have made, 30 years ago, pictures that are totally relevant today - we still have to invent another word than just timeless for you... because of this magic! We want them all!!!!” – Samuel Drira, Encens Magazine 2019
Copyright WILLIE CHRISTIE© 2024