A simple but stunning shot of Ann Walker taken in 1964 by Terry Sparks and one that comes with a story attached 🙂
Terry recently found the site whilst searching for one of his favourite models, Gloria Lomax and decided to contact me. It transpires that Terry spent three years working for Russell Gay from April 1966 to late 1968. What many people don’t know, is that Russell Gay lost interest in taking pictures around 1965 and thereafter concentrated on publishing, particularly QT, Fiesta and Knave. He employed Terry and Ken Williams to shoot for him. So although pictures were still going out stamped “Russell Gay Studios” they were in fact taken by Terry or previously Ken Williams. Russell did continue directing 8mm films but left the running of the studio, finding models etc. to Terry. As Terry stated it became quite frustrating to see his photographs being published with Russell’s name on them, but as he paid a reasonable salary Terry lived with the fact. After Terry left RG’s employment he went freelance, but still worked out of his studio and he also let him use a small office on condition that Russell got first refusal on any thing that Terry shot. This meant that Terry was still effectively shooting for Fiesta and Knave but it also allowed him to sell any pictures Russell did not want to his agents in the States and on the Continent.
Terry sent me the above photo which he took of Annie Walker in May 1964 before he worked for RG. Terry later became friends with Ann and remembers spending one afternoon wallpapering her bathroom in her new flat after she split with Ed Alexander. What a great story!
A big thank you to Terry for the wonderful story and image of Ann, as these are the things that make doing this site such a pleasure. Terry has promised to keep in touch and provide more stories and information and I already have another shot of Ann and some memorabilia from him.
Note: This is an original image and subject to this copyright notice, but can be individually shared as long as the image remains unaltered and this website is acknowledged as the source.
