Tony Potts

Tony Potts has spent three decades photographing  editorial fashion for major fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harpers  Bazaar, and been in demand  directing beauty and lifestyle commercials for clients worldwide. There is a sensual tone to his nudes that capture a  moment of intimacy. His storytelling  interpreting life on Bondi Beach with his camera has been a lifelong devotion also. 

Tony has, till now, sold to private collectors in Sydney, Los Angeles, New York.

Now represented by Lyons Gallery he is offering a Limited Edition of some of his best known  images. 

Tony's signature photographic style encompasses movement and the pursuit of capturing  moments of sensuality in unassuming scenarios. 

 Whilst studying at the Australian Centre of Photography, Tony worked at Vogue Australia as camera assistant to Patrick Russell, the creative director and photographer, before spending several serendipitous years living in London, Paris and New York, modelling for world renowned fashion photographers including Helmut Newton,  Denis Piel, Patrick Demarchelier, Albert Watson, and Oliviero Toscani. 

During this extraordinarily formative period, Tony appeared in many magazines including Vogue Australia, England, Italy and France, Germany and others. He modelled for Helmut Newton for French Vogue which he refers to as the highlight of his modelling career.

Tony returned to Australia in the early 80’s  to interpret and distil the essence of what he had experienced overseas into his own photography. 

Tony was soon shooting editorial fashion for  the major Australian fashion designers and magazines, including Vogue and Harpers Bazaar.

Tony was also asked to shoot nudes, particularly for Black & White Magazine.  These images form a large part of his archival collection. 

After about 10 years shooting fashion exclusively, Tony was asked if he would like to direct  live action. He soon found himself directing hair and beauty commercials worldwide. 

Tony is the eldest son of Judy Barraclough,Australia’s most elegant fashion mannequin and household name of the 50’s. Within two years of arriving in London in 1950, Judy became the house model for the Queen’s dressmakers Molyneux and Hartnell, giving weekly showings to The Queen, The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Kent. She also appeared in the Royal Command Parade for British Fashion in Sydney and was the star of the catwalk in Sydney and London, referred to by Australian Haute Couture designer Hall Ludlow as “The most elegant woman I’ve ever known”. She returned to Australia in the early 50s with Tony's father Dr Ian Potts who was later to become a renowned Urologist.

Tony’s uncle, David Potts was one of the last of a remarkable generation of photographers that first sought, and then found, recognition in Britain in the 1950’s and 60’s. He was considered one of the great Australian documentary photographers along with close friends and contemporaries Max Dupain and David Moore. David Potts’s images are held in permanent collections at The National Gallery, Canberra; The National Gallery of Victoria; the Art Gallery of South Australia; the Art Gallery of NSW; The Powerhouse Museum and the State Library of NSW.

Tony's brother, Dr Timothy Potts is the Director of The Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA