I first met Derek nearly 20 years ago, and I must say, he doesn’t seem to have changed much over the years. His hair may be a little greyer, but his unassuming and pragmatic nature remains steadfast, as does his dry sense of humour.
An expert in his field, Derek is a modest man who has built an immense and diverse body of work. Known for his striking documentation of British subcultures, he has captured the essence of movements such as punk, skinhead, New Romantic, and fetish scenes. His portraits include iconic figures like James Brown, Clint Eastwood, and Johnny Depp, as well as politicians, artists, and writers.
Derek’s journey into photography began after studying graphic design at Ealing School of Art, where he was a contemporary of Freddie Mercury. He initially worked as an art director in advertising before transitioning to photography, inspired by his love of music and live events. One of his earliest photographs was taken at a concert featuring Ron Wood, Eric Clapton, and Pete Townshend in 1973.
Despite photographing Hollywood A-listers, Derek remains grounded, giving equal attention to his prolific archives of British subculture. His work has been featured in renowned publications such as The Face, NME, and The Sunday Times. Fair and impartial, he devotes his full and focused attention to every subject.
He’s something of an enigma, really.
