Simon Fowler (photographer)
{{other people||Simon Fowler (disambiguation)}}
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{{notability|Biographies|date=January 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2016}}
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{{EngvarB|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
Simon Fowler (born Simon R. Fowler in 1954) is an English photographer/director, known for his work with many singers and bands.
Early life and career
Fowler was born in Hastings. After completing an Art Foundation course at High Wycombe College of Art and Technology he then studied photography at Amersham College of Art and Technology.{{cite web | url=https://bucksart.co.uk/bucksartnews/romeo-di-girolamo-pprba-rbsa-hon-baf-hon-wsa-ndd-bas-hon/ | title=Romeo di Girolamo PPRBA, RBSA Hon. BAF Hon. WSA NDD. BAS Hon | date=31 October 2022 }}
In 1974 he got his first job as a darkroom assistant at London Features International{{cite web|url=http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=5418181 |title=simon fowler – Photographer Biography, Photography |publisher=photo.net |date=28 August 2009 |accessdate=31 January 2011}} a photographic syndication agency founded in 1971 by businessman John Halsall and photographer Mike Putland. Putland left LFI in 1976 to start the RETNA. agency.{{cite web|url=http://www.rockarchive.com/michael-putland-photographer.html |title=Iconic Rock Star Photo Images by Michael Putland |publisher=Rockarchive.com |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} At around the same time Fowler left working out of his own B/W portrait studio in Henley-on-Thames.
In 1978/9 he went into partnership with fellow photographer and LFI employee, Paul Cox, initially working from a small office at LFI's Baker Street studios in return for their syndication rights. Specialising in music photography, they worked under the name of SLAG (Studio, Location and Gigs,) in keeping with the current anti- establishment Punk movement. They later moved premises to Bow Street Studios under The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and then to Fulham via Chester Square Belgravia.
By 1986, having gone their separate ways Fowler and Cox were part of the dream team on the design side of the PWL empire, Pete Waterman's production company, photographing Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley.
At the time Fowler had moved in alongside Design Consultancy Stylorouge in Paddington for several years, his other clients included Boy George, Spandau Ballet, Iron Maiden, Toyah,{{cite web|url=http://www.toyah.net/gall3.html |title=Dreamscape • Toyah Gallery • 1981 |publisher=Toyah.net |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} Howard Jones,{{cite web|url=http://www.elektra60.com/images/howard-jones-1985-bw-publicity-photo-2-simon-fowler/ |title=Howard Jones-1985 B&w Publicity Photo 2 [Simon Fowler] – Photo Detail |publisher=Elektra60.com |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} Paul Young,{{cite web|url=http://www.stylorouge.co.uk/25years/?years=7 |title=Stylorouge 25 Years |publisher=Stylorouge.co.uk |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} and Wet Wet Wet.Picture This, Wet Wet Wet, The Official Book, {{ISBN|1852275332}}, published by Virgin Books
In 1993 he began a long working relationship with actress and singer Sarah Brightman,{{cite web|url=http://www.stylorouge.co.uk |title=Stylorouge Creative Design Consultancy – Design Company – Graphic Design – Art Direction – Music Design |publisher=Stylorouge.co.uk |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} seeing him moving into directing with a TV commercial and promo for her 2008 album Symphony.
He went on to photograph a number of other classical artists including Lesley Garrett,{{cite web|url=http://www.lesleygarrett.co.uk/gallery2.html |title=Welcome to the Lesley Garrett Gallery |publisher=Lesleygarrett.co.uk |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} Katherine Jenkins{{cite web|author=Molly Watson, Western Mail |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=15952635&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=katherine-s-incredibly-natural--when-she-smiles--it-s-quite-true-name_page.html |title=Katherine's incredibly natural, when she smiles, it's quite true – Wales News – News |publisher=WalesOnline |date=10 September 2005 |accessdate=31 January 2011}} and Elina Garanca.{{cite web|url=http://www.elinagaranca.com/lv/gallery/photo-session-simon-fowler-virgin-classics |title=Elīna Garanča| Photo Session / Simon Fowler / Virgin Classics |publisher=Elinagaranca.com |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} His clientele continues to be diverse including jazz singer/pianist Jamie Cullum,{{cite web|url=http://jazztimes.com/guides/artists/7641-jamie-cullum |title=Jamie Cullum — Jazz Artists |publisher=Jazztimes.com |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} Irish musician Enya, Coleen Rooney and Thom Yorke.{{cite web|url=http://www.simonfowlerphotography.com/ |title=Simon Fowler | Photography |publisher=Simonfowlerphotography.com |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}}
Personal life
Fowler lives in Surrey with his wife Karen and three children. His eldest son, Beau Fowler, is a film director/actor/writer,{{cite web|url=http://www.kifilms.co.uk/ |title=News |publisher=Ki Films |date= |accessdate=31 January 2011}} daughter Francesca Fowler is an actress/writer and youngest son Max Fowler is an actor.