Grew up in wartime London where he lived a self described enchanting childhood, running wild and exploring bomb sites.
Attended St.Martins school of art to study painting but switched to dress design - "The most attractive lot were these girls who were doing dress design (at Saint Martin's), so I got into dress design." - Duffy
Finished dress design and became an assistant designer at Susan Small Dresses followed by a short time at Victor Stiebel (Princess Margaret’s dress designer).
Travelled to Paris and was offered a job with Balenciaga but turned it down.
Freelanced as a fashion illustrator including work for Harpers Bazaar. During this time Duffy saw some photographic contact sheets on the art directors desk. This appealed to Duffy and inspired him to think about photography and find a job as a photographic assistant.
Applied for job with John French but was unsuccessful so instead became an assistant at Carlton Studios. Soon Duffy left for a better job at Cosmopolitan Artists who represented David Hurne, Ivor Sharpe and Ken Russell. Next he took a job as an assistant to photographer Adrian Flowers during which time he shot his first photographic commission for The Sunday Times for Fashion Editor Ernestine Carter.
Hired by British Vogue under Art Director John Parsons and over ther next 5 years worked closely with models Jean Shrimpton (who he introduced to David Bailey!), Tania Mallet, Jill Kennington, Maggie Eckardt, Joy Weston, Jennifer Hocking, Marie Lise-Gres & Paulene Stone.
Duffy began moving up the ranks of Vogue photographers, from still life shoes, jewellery and accessories to models, portraits and events providing his first magazine cover after just 9 months.
Featured in every issue of Vogue in 1960 and shot 3 more covers, Duffy began to find his own clients and shoot adverts using Vogue Studios.
Went to New York and was hired by art director Miki Denhof to shoot for Glamour Magazine.
Begins to work for French Elle in Paris in January under art director Peter Knapp. By October Duffy is fully independant and begins to gather numerous advertising clients and shoot for Town and The Sunday Times Magazine and continues to provide exciting modern fashion shoots for Vogue out of the studio and in the real world.
Commissioned to shoot his first Pirelli Calendar, shot on location in the South of France. Also provided covers for Queen Magazine, Tatler and London Life.
Photographed the Monacco Grand Prix during the filming of John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix. Continued to shoot for Queen, Nova, Vogue, French Elle, The Sunday Times, Town and Woman's Mirror.
Set up film production company DEIGHTON DUFFY with Len Deighton at 142 Piccadilly, London. This marked the end of Duffy's first period with French Elle however he continued to shoot for The Sunday Times magazine and occsionally Queen and Vogue.
Finished Production on “Only When I Larf” starring David Hemmings. Began to shoot for The Observer shooting 8 covers throughout the year.
Finished production on the musical film “Oh What a Lovely War” with Len Deighton.
First fashion Photography for Telegraph Magazine and Harpers Bazaar for the first time since providing illustrations 13 years prior.
Deighton Duffy Productions ran its course and Duffy returned to photographing features for The Sunday Times after a 4 year absence.
Photgraphed David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust as a favour to Tony Defries in July. The begining of an 8 year creative relationship.
Duffy immortalises David Bowie as Aladdin Sane.
Duffy and Peter Knapp are reunited and return to work together at French Elle after 8 years.
Shot David Bowie as "The Thin White Duke" on the set of "The Man Who Fell to Earth." in New Mexico.
Began to shoot for Ritz Magazine by David Bailey. Endorsed by Olympus Cameras and became part of various advertising campaigns for the cameras.
Commissioned by top London advertising agency Collett Dickenson Pearce to shoot the ground breaking, surreal, Benson & Hedges advertisements.
Award winning Smirnoff stills campaigns for Young & Rubican Agency.
Duffy shot "The Lodger" - his fourth session with David Bowie. Shortly after he abruptly gave up photography attempting to burn many of his negatives in his studio yard. Luckily he was stopped by a local council employee due to the acrid smoke being produced. Much of his work was lost but what remains has formed The Duffy Archive covering a comprehensive visual history of twenty-five years of British culture and fashion.
David Bowie coaxed Duffy out of retirement for one last shoot – Scary Monsters. This was shot at Chris Duffy's London Studio.
Duffy moved onto television commercials and in 1981 joined the film production company Lewin Matthews.
Duffy directed the music video for Spandau Ballet's "Gold", ABC's "All Of My Love" and two pop videos for The Human League.
Duffy worked for Paul Kramer Productions in New York.
Duffy returned to the UK to set up his own film production company 3DZ, Pioneering the Super16 film format shooting TV commercials and pop videos including the British Steel flotation.
By this point Duffy had retired almost completely from all image making and pursued his lifelong passion for furniture restoration and became an accredited BAFRA (British Antique Furniture Restoration Association) restorer.
BBC Documentary “The Man Who Shot The Sixties” One hour documentary on Duffy’s life and work. First exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery Mayfair, London (now Beetles & Huxley)* See Exhibits page for full list of exhibition since 2009
Publication of first monograph “Duffy Photographer” Published by ACC Editions features over 160 iconic images from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and in 2011 the V&A Museum London requested Duffy prints for their permanent collection.
Solo Exhibitions and contributions in Italy, Paris, Amsterdam, Spain, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, London and Australia. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
David Bowie Is launched at the V&A Museum with Aladdin Sane as the lead image. Also named as one of one hundred ‘most influential photographers of all time’ by the British Journal of Photography. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
Publication of Duffy / Bowie – “Five Sessions” Published by ACC Editions. Publication of French Elle – “In The Eyes of Brian Duffy” – Published in French by Glenat. David Bowie Is V&A Exhibition goes on tour to: Sao Paulo, Berlin and Chicago. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
David Bowie 'Is' continues to tour Paris, Australia and the Netherlands. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
David Bowie 'Is' continues to tour Italy and Japan. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
David Bowie 'Is' reaches Barcelona. The Archive also contributed to Holden Luntz Gallery Exhibitions - "Under The Bright Lights, Fashionable Moments" and "The Art of Sound and Movement" In Florida. See Exhibitions section for more exhibits.
David Bowie 'Is' Tour reaches Brooklyn NY - Bowie's home town - And reaches the incredible milestone of 2 Million visitors.
'Mary Quant' & 'Cars' Launch at the V&A London featuring Duffy images.
