Brian James Griffin (1948–2024) was a prominent British photographer known for his surrealist style and influential portraits of 1980s pop musicians. Born in Birmingham, he studied at the Manchester School of Art before moving to London, where he established himself as a corporate photography expert and later a music industry mainstay. He is credited with developing the photographic style of 'capitalist realism,' which drew on influences from Renaissance masters, Symbolism, and Surrealism, often utilizing film noir lighting. His work has been featured in publications such as Esquire and Rolling Stone, and his portraits are held in major collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. In 1989, he was named 'photographer of the decade' by The Guardian.[3,4,5]
