Stephens Orr
John Stephens Orr (6 March 1907 – 1990) was a Scottish Glasgow photographer whose subject matter was often people or motor cars. Practising between 1930 and 1970 in Glasgow's Langside and later at No. 4 Somerset Place, Charing Cross, he became known for his portraits of society figures in magazines such as Scottish Field.
Also recorded as John Stephens Orr
Stephens Orr
- Died
- 1990
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Occupation
- photographer
- Languages
- English
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John Stephens Orr (6 March 1907 – 1990) was a Scottish Glasgow photographer whose subject matter was often people or motor cars. Practising between 1930 and 1970 in Glasgow's Langside and later at No. 4 Somerset Place, Charing Cross, he became known for his portraits of society figures in magazines such as Scottish Field.
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Biography
His photographs were often of judges posing in full regalia, antidisestablishmentarianism lawyers, Duchesses and controversial music hall characters. Orr also photographed celebrities and captains of industry, all visitors to Glasgow. Some of the people he photographed include: • Paul Robeson — U.S. vocalist and black activist • Dame Marie Rambert — Polish dancer and choreographer; founder of Ballet Rambert • Marc Chagall — Jewish painter • Richard Burton — Welsh actor • Stanley Baxter — Scottish comedian • Jacques Tati — French film maker • Paul Tortelier — French cellist • David Brown, Aston Martin cars • William Lyons, Jaguar, Austin cars • Walter Owen Bentley, Rolls-Royce/Bentley cars • Nicholas Fairbairn — Scottish lawyer and British politician Orr wore a distinctive kilt and was photographed in a portrait style similar to Yousuf Karsh. He recorded the last glimmers of a confident Scottish society in flamboyant style. His later life was spent with his wife, Jenny, on the Scottish Clyde coast island of Cumbrae. He "spoke with [a] pronounced Glasgow accent". He died in Cumbrae, aged 83.
The recorded working language is English.
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon. 1907 ORR, JOHN STEPHENS (Statutory registers Births 646/2 458). Scotland's People.
- 2.Thomson, Patricia. Sydney Harrison. Glasgow Herald. 24 April 1999.
- 3.National Portrait Gallery. Stephens Orr (active 1960s), Photographer.
- 4.Smith, Kenny. John Stephens-Orr – the snapper to the stars. Scottish Field. 4 October 2019.
- 5.Maclean, Calum. The Highlands. Random House. 24 February 2012. 978-1-78057-436-3.
- 6.Scotland's People: Statutory registers - Deaths
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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