Arthur Steel was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 6th December 1936. One Christmas his parents unexpectedly gifted him a box camera. His interest in photography was born.
His first photographs were taken at Ushaw college and due to the high price of film he could not afford to take too many pictures, and became extremely selective. He would spend hours looking through the viewfinder composing pictures that he never took and only pressed the button if it was something very important. When the film was full, which could take months, he would get it developed. The practice of being frugal with film followed him all the way through his life, and waiting for the ‘one shot’ that mattered paid off many times.
In the early ’70s, Arthur travelled extensively on many assignments covering world news, finding himself in Bethlehem one week and then covering stories such as the Bangladesh Liberation War another. When back in London, Arthur had the opportunity to take pictures of his own choice on days off, many of which are now showcased in The Arthur Steel Archive, together with opportunist photographs such as the portrait of Rupert Murdoch at his desk in Bouverie Street and the portraits of Mick Jagger who unexpectedly stepped out of a doorway into Arthur’s path, sporting the famous ‘forty licks’ t-shirt, both incredibly rare pictures.
Now a highly respected editor and Fleet Street photographer Arthur engaged with and photographed a vast array of interesting and colourful characters within their various environments, such as John Lennon Skiing in St. Moritz, Eric Morecambe within his study, he documented Ronnie Kray’s wedding in Broadmoor Hospital, shot exclusive pictures of Ronnie Biggs on a fairground ride in Rio, Elton John at home with his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, George Best surrounded by bubble bath on release from Ford Prison, on set and close up with Marty Feldman, behind the scenes with John Wayne and the world’s press, a one to one photo session with Ian Dury wearing a suspender belt, Louis Armstrong imitating a trumpet with his hands, Christine Keeler in her bedsit, invited to photograph Margaret Thatcher within her bedroom, a portrait session with Paul Newman in Mayfair, a black tie dinner with Rocky Marciano, intimate shoots with George Harrison, at Wimbledon with Björn Borg and at The Savoy with Charlie Chaplin, amongst many others.
His most historical picture was taken on the wedding day of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, titled ’The Kiss’ whilst they gave audience to the world on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as documented by the BBC’s television programme titled ‘Decisive Moments’.
Arthur is currently working on a luxury coffee table book which will be published by OPUS in later part of 2022.