Fashion photographer blazed a trail in London

AN ACCLAIMED photographer brought up in the Capital and credited with discovering British Oscar winner Rachel Weisz has died at the age of 50.

Fashion photographer and London College of Communication lecturer Colin Jarvie forged his reputation during the 1980s, setting up photographic company Avid Images alongside business partner David Scheinmann.

The pair blazed a trail in the London commercial photographic world during the space of four years from 1985, producing award-winning campaigns for Harrods and Max Factor. They discovered Rachel Weisz as a 16-year-old model during that time, casting her as the face of Rimmel in 1986.

The pair, known for their bold innovation and technical excellence, amicably split to pursue individual careers the following year.

Colin’s love for photography can be traced back to his teenage years. He was born the younger son of engineer David Jarvie and the late Margaret Jarvie – a leading authority on counselling in Scotland.

The talented artist grew up in Edinburgh, attending Craigmount High School and later James Gillespie’s High School in the 1970s.

Colin’s first foray into commercial photography sprang from photographing bands linked to Edinburgh-based independent label Fast Product in 1979-80.

In 1982, he moved to London to study photography, film and television at London College of Printing.

Later, from 1989 and 1992, Colin worked as a freelancer during a period where he met eventual wife, Catherine.

He ended that stint to become a senior lecturer at LCP, where he taught until 2006, guiding renowned alumni including Sophie Rickett and Tom Hunter.

Mr Hunter said: “Before I’d been doing these photography projects, just observing. He [Colin] challenged that. He really made me think about my voice and my passion, where I was coming from and that was the thing that really triggered me off on my quest as a photographic artist.”

Colin continued to develop a large body of work outside of teaching. His first major solo exhibition – My World, My Wife, My Camera – was held in 2003 at the Back Hill Gallery, London.

The photographer later created a series of large prints depicting the personalised cabins of Mexican bus drivers in a stunning series exhibited at the Inspired Art Fair in 2005.

Colin resettled in Edinburgh in late 2010 following his divorce from Catherine Jarvie, leading to a creative partnership with German-based artist Elaine Jeffrey.

Opening gallery space at Summerhall in the Capital had been amongst Colin’s plans at the time of his death. He is survived by his father and brother Grant.