Andy Earl Opens Bankside Yard: A Landmark Night for a Legendary Photographer – and a Treasure Hunt for Eurythmics Fans
The Most Inventive Spaces
London gained a striking new cultural space tonight as acclaimed photographer Andy Earl unveiled his latest exhibition inside one of the newly restored railway arches at Bankside Yards. Although the residential and commercial development includes 40 Victorian arches, none have been open to the public for more than 125 years. That changed this evening with Earl’s VIP launch, an atmospheric, history steeped debut for a venue that feels tailor made for art.
Earl, whose career spans five decades and some of the most iconic images in music photography, welcomed guests into the raw brick cavern of the arch, now transformed into a gallery space that feels both intimate and monumental. The setting, industrial, storied, and beautifully lit, proved a perfect match for Earl’s work, which has always balanced boldness with emotional depth.
And for Eurythmics fans, the night held a special thrill: five Eurythmics related photographs are hidden throughout the exhibition, waiting to be discovered.
A Photographer Whose Lens Helped Shape Music History
Andy Earl’s career reads like a who’s who of modern music. His first client was Malcolm McLaren, followed immediately by Duran Duran, a one two punch that launched him into the heart of the 1980s creative explosion. Over the years he has photographed Prince, Johnny Cash, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, and countless others.
During tonight’s launch, Earl shared stories behind several of his most famous images. One highlight was his tale of photographing Prince, delivered with the mixture of awe and amusement that only Prince’s collaborators can truly convey. Capturing that single moment but with a story of delays, smashed camera equipment and the sun shining at just the right moment! Another was the extraordinary account of how he captured David Attenborough waist deep in a pool on a film set for a Blue Planet promotional image, a moment Earl recalled with warmth, especially poignant as Attenborough celebrated his 100th birthday the following evening.
The Eurythmics Connection: Five Photographs, Five Stories
Earl’s relationship with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart has produced many striking images in the Eurythmics visual archive, as well as working with both Dave and Annie solo as well. Andy took most of the photographs for The Spiritual Cowboys promotion as well as the Don't Ask Me Why cover.
EURYTHMICS - ANNIE LENNOX
DON'T ASK ME WHY?
Silver Dress Portrait (Large B&W)
A dramatic, large format black and white portrait of Annie in her shimmering silver dress from the Don’t Ask Me Why video. Andy has said this photograph was taken in between takes on the video shoot itself.
The image is classic Earl: sculptural, elegant, and quietly powerful.
DAVE STEWART
SPIRITUAL COWBOYS
Spiritual Cowboys Era (California Pool)
A beautifully composed shot of a contemplative Dave Stewart sitting at the bottom of an empty California pool, the words “Rebel” painted behind him. It’s a quintessential early 90s Earl image: sun bleached, contemplative, and quietly surreal.
DAVE STEWART AND ANNIE LENNOX
Eurythmics
The lighting is even and controlled, typical of Andy Earl’s portrait work, highlighting texture and form without harsh shadows. The closeness of Dave and Annie, combined with the gesture of the covered face and closed eyes, creates a strong sense of intimacy and visual balance. The overall effect is minimal, striking, and timeless, with the photograph relying on pose, proximity, and contrast rather than props or setting.
ANNIE LENNOX
MAX MAGAZINE COVER
A clean, close up portrait of Annie Lennox created for Max magazine in Italy. Annie faces the camera head on, hands framing her temples, with short cropped hair and vivid red lipstick.
The bold, minimal composition reflects Andy Earl’s signature style, relying on strong framing, controlled lighting, and graphic impact.
DAVE STEWART
With DAMIEN HIRST & GILBERT & GEORGE
A quirky, mischievous photograph signed by Dave himself, from the Greetings from the Gutter Era. featuring an unexpected trio: Stewart, Gilbert & George, and Damien Hirst.
It’s a snapshot of a moment when British art, music, and eccentricity collided in the best possible way.
A New Cultural Landmark Opens Its Doors
Tonight’s VIP launch was the first time the public has stepped inside this Bankside Yard arch in more than 125 years. The space feels like a discovery, a hidden chamber beneath the city, reclaimed for art after decades of silence.
Beginning tomorrow, the gallery opens to the public, and it will remain open for three months. For fans of photography, music history, or London’s evolving cultural landscape, it’s a must visit. For Eurythmics fans, it’s a treasure hunt, five photographs, each with its own story, waiting to be found, but with so much more, you will easily spend a couple of hours viewing each photograph in detail.
Andy Earl’s exhibition is more than a retrospective. It’s a celebration of a career spent capturing the soul of music through images that still resonate decades later. And now, in a railway arch untouched since the Victorian era, those images have found a new home and one worthy of their history.
