Ken Rush - Glamour Photographer
/The More Exotic Side Of Ken Rush
Ken Rush, an aviation enthusiast, achieved remarkable feats at a young age. At just 16, he became one of the youngest individuals to obtain a glider pilot’s license. Additionally, he showcased his artistic talents, gaining recognition as an artist. After joining the RAF, Ken’s passion for aviation led him to pursue a career as a pilot, unfortunately, he was unable to pass the eyesight test. However, his artistic training proved instrumental, as it secured him a job at the Air Ministry in London, where he designed recruitment stands for exhibitions. Upon demobilisation, Ken embarked on a new journey with Astral Arts in Bond Street, London, where he crafted out a career producing aircraft paintings in diverse settings.
Ken’s early work included illustrations for popular construction kits like Airfix, Frog, and Revell. Beyond his aviation-themed paintings, he also illustrated several books on cars for Automobile Quarterly in New York. His Book of Fantastic Machines, published by Octopus Books, earned him the prestigious title of European Illustrator of the Year in 1976. A more comprehensive overview of Ken’s career and artistic skills can be easily found through a simple internet search.
Beyond his artistic pursuits, Ken was also an avid photographer, capturing images of aircraft. However, it’s worth noting that his hobby extended beyond aviation photography, encompassing a more private aspect as a glamour photographer. This passion was a hobby rather than a part of his professional or public profile. Over the years, Ken amassed a substantial collection of photographs for his personal enjoyment, often privately commissioning models from agencies and other sources.
While Ken’s glamour photography delved into the allure and eroticism of the subject matter, it avoided explicit pornography. However, it did exhibit certain themes and focal points. Notably though, most of his pictures never go beyond topless. I believe most of these images have never been seen before because they were created solely for personal enjoyment and interest. In my opinion, this makes them even more special.
Sadly, Ken passed away last year at the age of 93, and it has taken time for his estate to be processed. Only recently were some of his personal belongings sold at auction. Ken’s hobby photography was included in this sale, and I was fortunate enough to purchase his entire glamour collection, which is substantial.
It includes tens of thousands of transparencies and negatives, thousands of prints, both colour and black and white many self-processed, reels and reels of cine film and camcorder footage, and all the photographs he acquired over decades of collecting. It’s quite a rare collection.
Most of it will eventually be sold through the BrazenBooks website, so for collectors seeking something truly original, there will be some great finds. As I begin sorting through everything and making it available for sale, I will be posting selected pictures here and on the Brazen site, similar to what has been done with pictures from the private collection of negatives.
So, let’s look forward to an interesting and diverse collection of pictures appearing here over the coming months and years, as it will take time to process everything when combined with more mundane tasks.
