Celebrity photographer returns to open Tunbridge Wells studio Tunbridge WellsPat sees stars from the dark side of his camera

KYLIE Minogue is a former champion tenpin bowler.

Not a lot of people know that, but when Tunbridge Wells photographer Pat Pope was sent by Melody Maker to take pictures of the pop princess in her native Australia, she arranged to meet him at a local bowling alley.

"She turned out to be really good, she had a lot of strikes," said Pat, who recently returned to his home town to open a new High Street portrait studio. "She told me she had been a champion when she was younger."

After more than 17 years snapping everyone from Tony Blair and David Bowie to Oasis and Radiohead, Pat has firsthand knowledge of the unpredictable ways of the rich and famous.

The former Skinners' School pupil, who grew up in Queen's Road, Tunbridge Wells, and played in local bands himself before moving to London, said: "Photographers are often treated quite badly, so it's not as glamorous as you might think. Some people are friendly, especially if you've got to know them over the years, but for a lot of them, having their photograph taken is just another bit of work."

After flying out to join Sting at his villa in Tuscany to shoot a cover picture for the Times magazine, Pat joined the musician and his guests at a meal and private concert.

Instructed to return the following day to take the photo, he was told he would be granted just 10 minutes.

"I had to arrange all the lights and seats, then quickly pose him in different positions and keep shooting.

"He didn't speak, just sat where I told him to."

Tony Blair proved to be a similar challenge.

"I had to sit next to him on a train travelling through the West Country while he was holding meetings, so I just had to try and catch him whenever he looked up."

Musician Morrissey, however, was "a dream", putting aside two days for photographs.

Pat's career kicked off when he saw an ad for student photographers to contribute to his university magazine.

"I pulled the ad off the noticeboard and contacted them, and ended up taking pictures of Suede. That led to other things, including their first album cover, so by the time I graduated with a photography degree, I had a good portfolio of work."

Coinciding with the beginning of BritPop in the mid 1990s, when young bands such as Suede, Oasis and Blur were rewriting pop history, Pat's career rapidly took off.

As well newspapers and magazines like Q and Rolling Stone, he also worked for Melody Maker for many years.

His portrait of singer Dido hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

Returning to his home ground, however, he is very keen to do a range photographs in many different styles that will sit alongside his celebrity work.

"I have always taken pictures of family and friends, and it gives me just as much pleasure as trying to capture famous people.

"After all, pictures are pictures, and doing the best you can is always a challenge.

"I have a strong dislike of 'cheesy' portraits – you don't always have to smile at the camera – and so I hope to offer something a bit different, maybe a new twist."

Contact Pat Pope on 07774 786084 or visit www.patpope.com