Ran Kin Revealed

He is the celebrated photographer of the famous, from the Queen to Kylie, a goto creator of high-end adverts, and an innovative backer of charitable projects. Here, Rankin charts his journey from uncultured St Albans teen to international artist.

If the name Rankin isn’t familiar, then his work will be. His is synonymous with cutting-edge portraits, his lens capturing the cultural and political figures of our age. His images have adorned the covers of Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, GQ and Rolling Stone. He is equally well known for his advertising shots for the film, fashion and beauty industry. He has also helped to create charity campaigns, including for Oxfam, Breakthrough Cancer and Women’s Aid. He has published magazines, more than 30 books, exhibited regularly in galleries around the world and has his own gallery in London. And his client list reads like a Who’s Who of pubic life in the UK and beyond. In short, he has a clear view from the topmost branches of the photography industry.

Rankin was born John Rankin Waddell in Glasgow. His family moved to North Yorkshire following a promotion for his dad, then on to St Albans, where Rankin spent his teenage years. Seeing his output and passion for capturing images of people, you might expect him to have been immersed in art and culture from a young age, but it wasn’t something his parents were interested in, he says.

‘I wasn’t really surrounded by much imagery growing up. My parents were lower-middle-class. Art and culture wasn’t something they ever had any contact with and consequently I didn’t either.

‘Growing up, my only connection to imagery was through films. My dad would often take me to the cinema. I found myself really seduced. I related it to what I would see out of the car window.’

His first encounter with photography (he admits he has very few photos of his youth) wasn’t until his late teens, when a hairdresser who cut his hair into ‘a crazy style’ asked if he could take his photo.