Linda McCartney

“I had daydreams and fantasies when I was growing up. I always wanted to live in a log cabin at the foot of a mountain. I would ride my horse to town and pick up provisions. Then return to the cabin, with a big open fire, a record player and peace”

The talented photographer made a name for herself in a male dominated industry with her portraits of musicians. She caused a stir when she fell in love with, and married a Beatle, and spent her life devoted to her family and passions.

Linda Eastman was born in New York on the 24th September, 1941. As a child she developed her lifelong passions for animals and music. She studied art at university and married fellow student, Joseph Melville See. Whilst studying in Arizona Linda attended a photography class and became fascinated with the medium. Following her divorce from See, Linda and her young daughter, Heather, moved back to New York where Linda found a job working for 'Town and Country' magazine. Whilst working there she came across an invitation to a Rolling Stones press conference. Linda went along with her camera and was the only photographer allowed to photograph the band. Her pictures of the Stones were in high demand and she began taking on free lance work, photographing both local and international groups. In 1967 she travelled to England to do a series for the book 'Rock and Other Four Letter Words'. By chance she met Beatle Paul McCartney in a nightclub and they were instantly taken with each other. A few days later Linda was invited to take photos at the Sgt. Pepper launch party. She and Paul spent the evening talking together and they began a relationship the following year. They were married in March 1969 and welcomed a baby daughter, Mary, later in the year.
In the early seventies Linda and Paul released the album RAM as a duo and went on to form the band 'Wings'. Linda sang, played the keyboard and synthesiser and co-wrote many of the bands songs. She became a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and created her own range of frozen vegetarian meals. Throughout her life Linda continued with her photography and published several books and was featured in numerous exhibitions and galleries. Tragically Linda passed away, from a long battle with breast cancer, in 1998. Following her death Paul released an album of her solo work titled, Wide Prairie.

Linda was one of the most successful photographers, in what was a largely male dominated industry, during the 1960s. She was the first woman to have a photo (of Eric Clapton) published on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. Her interest in people's personalities is evident in her work, and many of her subjects commented on how at ease she made them feel, as if she were a friend and not a photographer. She photographed all the major musicians of the day, including, The Beatles, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Doors. Her other favourite subjects were animals, children, nature and, of course, Paul!

Linda was a strong woman who made a life for herself and her child as a single mother. She remained strong when many aimed cruel criticism at her for marrying Paul. She was an American divorcee, and many fans couldn't understand what Paul saw in her. But Linda remained kind hearted and passionate. She didn't pay attention to others opinions of her, she just lived her life. Her relationship with Paul proved to be loving and enduring, they raised four children together and supported each other through everything that came their way. Paul credited Linda with helping him through his nervous breakdown, suffered following the breakup of the Beatles, she supported and encouraged him to start writing again.

Throughout her life Linda remained true to herself. She pursued her interests, photography, music and animals, with her distinctive, passionate vision. She was a loving, caring mother and wife and became a pioneer in her chosen fields. Though she was often dogged by unfair criticism she continued to do what she loved, forging a path for herself in often difficult professions.

“I don’t need a lot of money. Simplicity is the answer for me”

Astrid Kirchherr

"Here I was, a photographer, with my own little car, living that sort of carefree artist's life with my friends"

A talented photographer Astrid Kirchherr befriended the most famous band in the world, The Beatles, during their Hamburg days. She fell in love with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe and is credited with giving The Beatles their 'look', but her life was marred by tragedy.

Astrid was born in Hamburg, Germany, 1938. After surviving the bombing of Hamburg during World War Two Astrid decided to become a fashion designer. Whilst at university she was encouraged by the photography teacher, Richard Wolf, to pursue black and white photography. She worked as Wolf's assistant for five years and dated artist Klaus Voormann. She became interested in French existentialism and she and her friends dressed primarily in black. In 1960 Klaus came across The Beatles playing in a seedy part of town known as the Reeperbahn. Amazed by this new music, he and Astrid soon became regulars at the English bands gigs. Astrid was fascinated by The Beatles and was determined to become as close to them as she could. She began photographing them and took thousands of images, including a famous series taken in a fairground, they became some of the first 'professional' pictures taken of the band. Astrid also fell in love with bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. A fellow artist Stuart left the band and moved in with Astrid where he rediscovered his love for painting. Stuart asked Astrid to marry him and they became engaged in November 1960. The following year they travelled to Liverpool where Astrid was introduced to Stuart's family. Around this time Stuart started suffering from intense headaches and frequently collapsed. In April 1962 he was rushed to hospital in an ambulance but he tragically died of a brain haemorrhage in Astrid's arms before they arrived, he was only twenty-one. Astrid was devastated, and was supported through her grief by the other Beatles, particularly John Lennon who had been Stuart's best friend. She continued to visit with them and their girlfriends throughout the sixties and worked as a free lance photographer, but she found that people were only interested in her old work so she eventually stopped photographing in 1967.
In 1968 she married English drummer, Gibson Kemp, but they divorced seven years later. She worked in a variety of jobs including a barmaid, fashion designer, and as a music publisher, and married again, though that relationship also ended in divorce. Astrid has since published several books of her photographs of The Beatles and has been featured in galleries throughout the world. She remains a presence at fan conventions and in her photography shop K&K where she sells vintage prints and books.

Astrid was a woman in a man's world during the 1960s, she struggled to make her voice heard in the photography world but her striking imagery remains inspirational to this day. Her images of The Beatles are a perfect capsule into their pre-fame world and her stark black and white images were the inspiration for the cover of their second album, With the Beatles. Her bohemian lifestyle also provided the young Liverpool lads with inspiration, she and Voormann influenced their hairstyles and clothing choices. She also believed in the group, especially Stuart, and encouraged him in his art. Astrid was also a 'motherly' figure for the group, especially George Harrison, who as the youngest was often homesick.

Pete Best once described Astrid and Stuart's relationship as being like a 'fairy tale' and to this day she refers to him as the love of her life. Their story is one of great tragedy but also of great love. Astrid remains dedicated to his memory and her portraits of him give us a fascinating look into the life of the forgotten fifth Beatle.

As a talented photographer in the 1960s Astrid paved the way for many women who came after her. In the face of immense sadness she has remained a kind and thoughtful person. She is equally as fascinating and enigmatic as her subjects, and her beautiful photographs provide not just a glimpse into the lives of her friends, but also provide a glimpse into her own soul and the things she was passionate about.

"My whole life changed in a couple of minutes. All I wanted was to be with them and to know them"

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