The extensive Derek Evans Studio archive contains some 200,000 negatives, 729 exhibition prints and ten daily log books. A 2009 independent report stated it had: ‘valuable historical, social and cultural significance’. Derek’s work was highly respected and wide-ranging. He was a popular and well-known character, involved in local politics, with a great love of sport and jazz, as well as being a professional photo-journalist for national and regional newspapers and TV companies. During his career he produced award-winning photographs in magazines and international exhibitions, and the Foto Museum in Antwerp, Belgium, hold his images in their national collection. His professional achievements were rewarded with a fellowship to the Royal Photographic Society.
Based in Herefordshire, with a studio in Broad Street, and then later on in Edgar Street, Derek Evans was considered to be one of the top freelance photographers in the country, earning an international reputation for his agency work. Through his pictures he amassed an incredible historic record. He was there during Fleet Street’s hey-day, boasting a host of award-winning shots and then went on to be one of the first ‘stringers’ to branch out into the fledgling TV market.
He mentored a generation of photographers and film-makers who passed through the studio, including Mike Charity, Jennifer Bowen (née Delaney), John Bulmer, Graham Essenhigh, and Keith James, who later became his business partner.
Throughout his career he maintained affection for home in Herefordshire, and built a body of work capturing the people of the county, from working and playing in the hop fields, to the Mayfair, the highs and lows of Hereford football club, and time-old customs at Fownhope. This section showcases yet more of his range of Herefordshire life images.
Using the Closed Captioning (CC) facility in YouTube we can offer auto-generated subtitled versions of the 110+ oral history video interviews. Click on the link to access the The Derek Evans Studio Playlist.
NB: To switch on the subtitles go to the bottom tab on the main image and click on ‘CC’ – to switch them off, do the same.