Smith, Pennie

Photographer Pennie Smith was born in London and attended Twickenham Art school in the late 1960s, where she studied graphics and fine art. She collaborated with graphic designer Barney Bubbles and music journalist Nick Kent on Friendz magazine from 1969-1972. Her first major photographic commission was covering a Led Zeppelin tour in the early 1970s. Smith went on to become a staff photographer at the NME, working there until the early 1980s. She photographed The Clash extensively, with two of her photographs being used on the covers of the Clash albums London Calling and Sandinista! Across her career, Smith has photographed many well-known musicians, including Joy Division, Morrissey and the Stone Roses, both on tour and in portrait work.

She published a book of her photography of The Clash in 1980 and her work has been included in exhibitions and on postage stamps. Smith is currently a freelance reportage photographer.