Adrian Houston
Adrian Houston, whose stunning images for the celebrated Mr & Mrs Smith series of travel guides helped put the brand on the map, is one of the UK's most talented and successful photographers.
Son of celebrated portrait artist Esther Craig, Adrian started his career in style, securing the coveted position of assistant to legendary photographer Michael Joseph shortly after graduating.
Early success came with his innovative portraiture work. His exceptional eye for detail, and his meticulous and creative yet relaxed approach, earned Adrian a number of high profile commissions, from the the Sultanah of Phang, to the Dalai Lama, and Jim Carrey.
Determined not to remain studio bound, Adrian began to travel to some of the world’s most unexplored and inhospitable terrains. The powerful results of his photography soon found their way onto everything from advertising campaigns to magazine covers. Meanwhile the stunning images that resulted from him witnessing the eruption of Mount Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island, were used to memorable effect in one of the Discovery Channel’s highest rating documentaries.
Adrian continues his association with the Mr and Mrs Smith book collection, having now photographed European Cities; European Coast and Country, two UK and Ireland volumes the Global Collection, France, and lastly Italy.
His warm atmospheric pictures photographs not only fired the public’s imagination. But helped put the Mr & Mrs Smith brand on the map.
Other projects include a book for famed designer and hotelier Anoushka Hempel, a book on the Oylimpic venues for Atkins, a publication on the celebrated four seasons of Kashmir, and current stills and film campaigns for Orient express, The Rocco Forte Collection, HGI, and Rosewood.
Adrian has also been one of the instigators of a brilliant new fund-raising initiative for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, whereby some of the UK’s most iconic figures were photographed alongside their own canine companions. The exhibition was help at the Haunch of Venison at the Royal Academy, the pictures were then auctioned off with all proceeds going to the charity.
An exhibition of some of his work can currently be seen on board The World, the largest private yacht on earth. He is currently working on his next environmental project The Tree which is due to show in late 2014.
His photograph of “Battersea through the wall” was hung in the summer exhibition at the Royal Academy in London 2012.
When Adrian is not on location, he works from his studio in Soho, London