Sue Murray was 20 when she was photographed by John d Green at his Kensington studios for Birds of Britain. This photograph was selected by John for the original 1967 book. The session took place on 4 August 1966. The interplay between John’s studio lighting and the metallic discs covering the dress produced the dazzling effect you can see so vividly in the photograph. The beautiful dress that she wore for the Birds of Britain shoot was made for her by Cetra Hearne, another of the fabulous ladies photographed by John for the Birds of Britain book.
Sue Murray was born in Bournemouth but spent her early years in India and Sri Lanka. She was a passionate painter, and came back to England to attend art school in the early sixties. While in London she was offered a modelling contract by Vogue. She was one of England’s top models in the sixties, and worked with such legendary photographers as David Bailey, Bert Stern, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn. She was a girlfriend of David Bailey’s until he left her for Catherine Deneuve.
She left modelling to pursue a career as a painter in the United States. Her paintings have been widely exhibited.
