Selected works now available from The Oil Art Advisory Gallery

Terry Pastor, an accomplished artist and printmaker, is widely recognized for his iconic album covers for David Bowie’s "Hunky Dory" and "Ziggy Stardust". However, his artistic repertoire extends far beyond these notable works.

 

Throughout his career, Terry Pastor has created album covers for a diverse array of artists, including the Beach Boys, Alex Harvey, The Sweet, Carl Palmer, and Soft Machine. His talent also spans into the literary world, where he has designed covers for best-selling authors such as Arthur C. Clarke, Jeffrey Archer, Mickey Spillane, Colleen McCullough, Len Deighton, Brian Aldiss, Michael Crichton, Ed McBain, and Leslie Thomas.

 

Pastor’s artistic achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including two prestigious Art Director of America awards and a Playboy magazine award. His paintings are featured in private collections worldwide and he has gallery representation in Japan, Milan, and New York.

 

In the past decade, Terry has primarily worked with digital media, though he occasionally incorporates traditional airbrush techniques, particularly when collaborating with other artists and photographers. His clientele includes Homme magazine, the Dutch design collective The Fool (Simon Posthuma and Marijke Koger), British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, and a recent collaboration with photographer Glen Luchford for Gucci’s Spring campaign.

 

Terry Pastor’s passion for art began in his early childhood. Born in rural Surrey in 1946 to an English mother and Austrian father, his artistic journey started when a family friend secured him an apprenticeship at Pulford Publicity, a Fleet Street design studio specializing in film posters. As a self-taught artist, Pastor mastered the airbrush technique, which became a cornerstone of his career. After being dismissed from his apprenticeship for his long hair, he acquired an old dental compressor for £5, which he used to power his airbrush while working from a rented studio in Covent Garden.

 

In the 1970s, Terry’s career flourished. He worked on advertising campaigns for J. Walter Thompson, Waceys, and Foote, Cone & Belding, as well as for major book publishers and men’s magazines like Mayfair and American Playboy. The “Hunky Dory” cover, commissioned in 1971, was a turning point. Based on a black-and-white photograph, Terry used his airbrush and transparent inks to create the final artwork, applying the title lettering with Letraset. David Bowie, impressed with the results, commissioned Terry again in 1972 for the “Ziggy Stardust” cover.

 

Terry Pastor’s enduring legacy in the art world is marked by his innovative techniques, collaborations with prominent figures, and contributions to both the music and literary fields.