Beken of Cowes Wall Decorations

Beken started their photography in 1888 when Alfred Edward Beken (1855–1915) came to Cowes & opened a pharmacy. It was his son Frank (1880–1970) who was so impressed by the Classic yachts sailing off Cowes that he started the Beken Marine Photography Archive. In 1914, the ‘West’ collection of glass plates dating back to 1880 was purchased to add to his growing collection of negatives. By the 1930s, Frank’s son Keith (1914–2007) was busy photographing afloat and in 1970 Keith’s son Kenneth (B.1951) joined the Company. Each generation has earned the title “Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society” and the Company has held three Royal Warrants for excellence. More recently in 2001 staff colleague Peter Mumford became actively employed photographing afloat adding to the modern digital color library. Up to 1970, the photographs were signed Beken & Son by hand in white ink. From 1970 when color photography came to the fore until the darkrooms closed in 2008, all photographs were signed Beken of Cowes again by hand with white ink.