Educated at Tonbridge School and Queen's College Cambridge where he became interested in photography. Served as an apprentice with the Sevenoaks photographer H. Essenhigh Corke. Moved to London in 1912 and set up as a portrait photographer under the professional name of Hugh Cecil. His photographs appeared regularly in the Sketch and Tatler. His early style was characterised by an elegant simplicity. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) sat for him in 1925, the first of many royal sittings. Published his Book of Beauty in 1926. With his well-established success Cecil turned to 'inventions'. His pupils Paul Tanqueray and Angus McBean actually took many of his photographs. (Source, NPG online catalogue)