The highly respected picture editor and writer, Bruce Bernard, hated to be referred to as a photographer. Since his death in 2000, Tate Britain has exhibited his extensive body of photographs of artists such as Frank Auerbach, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Although failing to complete his course at Saint Martin’s School of Art, he formed many friendships with artists and gained himself a reputation for his sound judgement. Along with his brother, the journalist Jeffery Bernard, Bruce would frequent the artistic dives of London’s bohemia.
After having left St Martin’s, Bernard finally settled into the role of picture researcher quickly rising to picture editor on Purnell’s History of the Twentieth Century, the Sunday Times Magazine and also produced a number of books including his own book ‘Century’, which gained critical acclaim.