The Michael Hoppen Gallery’s first exhibition, in 1992, was of Colin Jones. Twenty-four years later Jones’s work continues to delight audiences with its breadth and humanity and the gallery is pleased to present a retrospective exhibition of his vintage prints.
Born in 1936 Jones’s early life started with a father away at the war, evacuations and numerous different schools. A combination of chance and talent lead to a scholarship with the Royal Ballet and he embarked upon a professional career that was to take him around the globe. Michael Peto, a Hungarian émigré, became a friend and mentor to Jones who admired his ability to capture with photography the fleeting moments taking place on stage. In 1960 Jones was touring in South Africa when the Sharpeville Massacre took place, he brought his first Leica at this time and an interest in photography and its ability to document reality was born.
