Terry O’Neill is one of the world’s most collected photographers, with work hanging in national art galleries and private collections across the globe. For over six decades he photographed the frontline of fame, from the greats of screen and stage to presidents, prime ministers and rock stars.

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No other photographer embraced this span of celebrity, capturing the icons of our age from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, Frank Sinatra and Elvis to Amy Winehouse, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot to Nicole Kidman, as well as every James Bond from Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan.

He photographed The Beatles and The Rolling Stones when they were still struggling young bands in 1963, pioneered backstage reportage photography with David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, Eric Clapton and Chuck Berry, and his images have adorned historic rock albums, movie posters and international magazine covers.

“Back in 1960, it never occurred to me that I could have a career as a photographer. I wanted to be a musician. When I started working for British Airways as a technical photographer, it was with the intention of becoming an air steward so I could fly to New York and be a jazz drummer.

The job was interesting though, and it entailed going to art school once a week. We were given a homework assignment to take pictures of emotion. I went across to Heathrow airport with my Agfa Silette to capture people saying goodbye and crying. I shot a picture of the then Home Secretary Rab Butler asleep among a crowd of African chieftains. The editor at the [now defunct] Dispatch saw the shot and hired me to work at the airport every Saturday.

I started working with the guy on the Daily Sketch who was hanging out with all the stars like Sophia Loren. I covered the airport for him so he could go off to the film sets. After a couple of months he died in a plane crash. I was offered his job and that was the start of my career.

In a way, photographers like myself, David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy created the Sixties. It wasn’t just who we were shooting, but the way we shot them.”

The Terry O’Neill Award is one of the world’s most acclaimed competitions, drawing thousands of entries from around the world. Past winners have become internationally recognised. O’Neill himself chaired a panel of judges drawn from the highest echelons of photography.