BOURNEMOUTH- The Swinging Sixties were celebrated in style at the opening of a new exhibition in The Gallery at the Arts University College at Bournemouth, showing the work of renowned photographer and University College alumnus, Philip Townsend.

The exhibition ‘Mister Sixties: Philip Townsend’s Portraits of a Decade’ features over fifty photographs capturing some of the most iconic faces of the sixties including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Twiggy and Harold Wilson. Also on display for the first time are Townsend’s memorabilia from the sixties including the camera he used to take his photographs, objects from his studio, newspaper cuttings and correspondence.

The opening night was a huge success, with Philip Townsend giving a personal insight into the sixties for the Gallery guests before opening the exhibition, where he commented “This is without a doubt the best exhibition I’ve ever had anywhere.”

The touring exhibition is in conjunction with The Lowry in Salford. Philip was joined in his introductory talk by Jim Mercer, renowned musician and personal friend; Jim was very much a part of the music scene of the sixties (playing with The Yardbirds amongst others) and continues to play bass with various Blues bands.

In a decade like no other, with an explosion of new music and fashion, Philip Townsend was at the beating heart of the revolution and captured unforgettable images in an imitable style which uniquely records the people and events that made the Sixties swing. This vibrant exhibition documents the people, the style and the musical revolution of the sixties.

Philip Townsend has had a long and close association with the Arts University College at Bournemouth. He studied Photography at the University College (formerly Bournemouth and Poole College of Art) between 1957 and 1959. He became an Honorary Fellow in 2009 and in the same year his work was featured in an exhibition celebrating five decades of photographic education. His solo exhibition ‘Mister Sixties’ is the first photographic event in the University College’s new Gallery and runs until 4th March 2011.

The University College’s Gallery showcases work from contemporary international artists and collections from other galleries and museums. It offers an exclusive space in the South West for the contemporary arts; its text + work programme invites artists to develop exhibitions and events in partnership with writers and critics who provide supportive narrative in the form of published text to accompany the exhibitions.