See exquisite still life photographs by former Fleet Street lensman Clay Perry at a by-appointment exhibition at The Old Post Office in Harleston this month
His wide portfolio of work is a snapshot of the last 60 years of British heritage and culture.
And this month, there's the chance to see an exhibition of prints by Clay Perry in a pop-up gallery in the Arts and Crafts dining room at The Old Post Office in Harleston.
The show came about to celebrate Clay’s 83rd birthday and showcase his most recent work for friends and family.
At the event, Norfolk-based composer and pianist Will Fergusson entertained guests with a repertoire of music inspired by Clay’s work.
'It was a spectacular affair,' says Claire Myers-Lamptey, owner of TOPO, as it's known. 'There was so much interest, we decide to open as an exhibition to the public.'
Visitors can enjoy The Heritage Fruit and Vegetable series, from the book of the same name.
Also on show are a number of Clay’s other books and his popular Roses calendar which is published annually by Dumont in Germany.
Clay grew up in rural Surrey. He left school with few qualifications and a love of poetry, literature and art.
He opted to study farm management, which made him exempt from National Service. When cutting kale during a freezing winter, he dreamt of foreign lands and decided to join the Merchant Navy, then went to sea school.
Ironically, his first voyage, at the age of 16, took him to the blockade of the Suez Canal and an unexpected nine month trip around the coast of Africa.
Travel inspired Clay, and he decided to study photography. He was offered a place at Guildford Art School, despite not having the necessary qualifications.
Interested in photojournalism, his tutor Ifor Thomas suggested that he purchased a small camera, and learnt to observe people and he and spent time photographing the community of Cable Street, a run down part of the East End of London, near the docks that he had sailed from.
On leaving art school Clay went to work for Black Star, a Fleet Street Press agency, and his first assignment was to follow the supposed participants in the Profumo affair, including Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies.
At the same time he became involved with the R&B scene in London, which was centred around the Crawdaddy Club, Eel Pie Island, and the Station Hotel in Richmond. It was there he met Georgio Gomelsky who was an early manager of the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds. Clay went on tour with the Yardbirds and has some unique early photographs of them. He also worked with Andrew Loog Oldham who took over as manager of the Stones.
Around this time, Clay met his wife, Maggie. They lived in Ladbroke Grove and were involved with the first Notting Hill Carnival.
Having been shocked by apartheid in South Africa, Clay was appalled by the advertisements in the shops for rooms to let, saying no blacks or Irish need apply and he took photographs of the wretched conditions people were living in at the time.
Bruce Bernard, picture editor of the Sunday Times Magazine, offered Clay a small but life-changing monthly retainer, along with Don McCullin and Lord Snowdon.
As well as contibuting to countless magazine articles and advertising campaigns, Clay is the sole illustrator of 20 books and his work is held in collections at The National Portrait Gallery, MOMA New York and more.
His connection to Norfolk spans at least 50 years. Drawn to the vivid landscape and expansive coastlines, he first bought an old rectory in north Norfolk where he, Maggie and daughter Sarah were based for a time. Harleston has been home for the last 10 years.
Viewing is by appointment at The Old Post Office, 3 Old Market Place, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BE from August 17-September 21. Call 01379 853308 to arrange a date and time. Visits can include afternoon tea or Lebanese meze.
See more of Clay's work and order prints at clayperry.co.uk
