Time to linger over Lord Lichfield’s instant images

Polaroid images of the Queen, Pelé, Joanna Lumley, Tommy Cooper and Sir John Gielgud which were taken by the late Lord Lichfield all feature in an exhibition that is premiering in one of Yorkshire’s stately homes.

The exhibition at the National Trust’s Nunnington Hall near Helmsley, which began yesterday and will run until May 8, charts the career of one of Britain’s most renowned photographer.

The property operations manager, Clare Fletcher, said: “We are thrilled to have such a wonderful, unique exhibition here at Nunnington, charting the long-standing career of and providing a fascinating insight into the man and his art.”

Nearly 2,000 Polaroid images were stuck up on the walls of Lord Lichfield’s studio in West London, which were taken during virtually every major commission he undertook between 1971 up until his death aged 66 in 2005.

Lord Lichfield kept the best of the tests from each session which he would then frame on a board each year before placing them on the wall to remind him of the work he had done during the previous 12 months.

The Polaroid pictures vary from Royal assignments to fashion and beauty, from cars to calendars and from advertising to editorial.