AN OXFORD music photographer with a growing reputation will return to his former school to exhibit his work.

The show by Edu Hawkins will feature one of the final portraits of music pioneer Gil Scott-Heron before his death earlier this year Mr Hawkins was overjoyed to meet him at a concert in London.

But the American singer died aged 62 in May and Mr Hawkins realised he had taken some of the last ever shots of the legendary singer.

“I was absolutely gutted when I found out he had died,” said Mr Hawkins, 25, from North Oxford. “The night I photographed him at Brixton Academy he was on good form.

“The concert was held in November and it was one of his last gigs.”

The former Radley College pupil has a growing reputation as a rock photographer and has captured some of the great blues and rock acts including BB King, Sonny Rollins, Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire.

He is staging an exhibition of his work at the school’s New Theatre and hopes the show, called Electric Church Paintings, will inspire others to take up photography.

Mr Hawkins, of Frenchay Road, said he started music photography after leaving Radley College in 2004 and completing a history of art degree at Leeds University in 2008.

He got his lucky break after getting in touch with renowned British photographer David Redfern, and said: “I got some work experience at his picture library in Notting Hill and couldn’t believe he had taken so many memorable pictures of artists like the Beatles and Hendrix.

“I grew up with a lot of jazz music being played in my house and my brother, Alexander, is a musician and will be doing a set at the private view of the exhibition on Friday, September 9.

“When I was 16 my brother bought me a copy of Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland, which inspired me, and as a teenager I loved Radiohead and will never forget their South Park concert.”

A career highlight has been two visits to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Mr Hawkins, whose photos have been published by The Independent and Jazzwise magazine, said: “At the New Orleans festival I was working alongside people who have been doing this stuff for over half a century.

“With my pictures I try to capture the musician’s personality, and with performance photos I try to get across that musical moment that sends a shiver down your spine.

“It’s an exciting time for me at the moment and the more you do this work the more exciting it becomes. You can get a great picture with an up-and-coming band as you can with a legend.”

Mr Hawkins uses a Nikon D700, which cost about £1,800.

He has also worked as a teaching assistant at Northern House school in Summertown, where pupils have learning difficulties.

He added: “There is a strong evidence that photography can be a useful tool to improve confidence in young people.”

* For further information visit eduhawkins.com