Arrowsmith shot the couple during album cover photo shoots for the band they formed together, Wings


Candid images of Sir Paul McCartney and his late wife Linda may never have seen the light of day if photographer Clive Arrowsmith had not cleared out his attic.

The playful shots were found in the loft of the celebrated fashion and celebrity snapper, taken in impromptu sessions at the end of two official photoshoots in 1976 and 1993 - the first of which featured McCartney's band Wings, which he formed with Linda.

Arrowsmith revealed that Paul asked the stylist to get some 'fun costumes' for a spontaneous shoot, and judging from the results the party enjoyed their dressing up session, with Linda even donning a fake beard.

Unseen images captured by photographer Clive Arrowsmith of Sir Paul and Linda McCartney show the couple's special bond. Paul gazes lovingly at his wife with a playful pout as they clasp hands, their wedding bands clearly visible

In one of the more recent portraits, the strong bond between the couple is evident as they pose cheek to cheek. Paul pouts lovingly at his wife as they clasp hands, their wedding bands clearly visible. Similarly a colour shot from the same day shows Linda leaning companionably on Paul's shoulder.

Another more playful pose from 17 years earlier sees the pair in jaunty costumes. Linda looks edgy in a top hat while Paul salutes the camera wearing a beret and clasping a cane to his chest.

The Beatle's famous Liverpudlian sense of humour is again apparent in a photograph of him appearing to bungee jump whilst holding his guitar. Despite the high-adrenaline activity, the musician still manages to look over his shoulder and give a cheeky smile to camera.

Arrowsmith, who was born in North Wales, told how stumbling across the pictures in his London home had triggered many happy memories.

The closeness of the McCartney marriage is evident in the portraits of the couple, which were found in the photographer's loft. The images will appear in a special musical version of The Royal Photographic Society Journal

The Beatle's famous sense of humour is apparent in a photograph of Paul McCartney seeming to bungee jump while holding his guitar

He said: 'They really capture the seminal moments of the shoot when it all came together. The fun we were all having, plus Paul and Linda's closeness, it's the naturalness of the pictures that is the key to their success.'

Their rediscovery came to light during an interview with Arrowsmith in the special music edition of The Royal Photographic Society's member publication, The RPS Journal.

It's no wonder that the British photographer, who made his name with iconic pictures of Jimi Hendrix, was able to capture McCartney looking so relaxed as the pair were close friends after meeting in their college days.

Although the pair did not attend the same academy (Arrowsmith trained at Queensferry Art School while McCartney went to Liverpool Art School) the fledging photographer hung around with Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe who would go on to form part of the original line up of The Beatles.

For the Off the Ground album shoot in 1993, there were a wild array of costumes on set. McCartney dons a militia jacket and smart white trousers while his wife stands to his left in a navy and pink dress in the style of the 1900s and an admiral's hat

In another picture the happy couple wear matching beards, while Linda wears and spangled black dress and Paul a red coat. The members of his touring band stand around them, one in an outfit suited to a Chinese emperor

He has also photographed a roll call of fashion designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Zandra Rhodes, Yamamoto; world-renowned musicians David Bowie and Mick Jagger as well as actors Michael Caine, Tom Hardy and Charlotte Rampling.

Andrew Cattanach: Editor of The Royal Photographic Society Journal said: 'Clive Arrowsmith is one of the World's most celebrated fashion and celebrity photographers who is held in very high regard amongst our members & in the photographic world.

'I am delighted that we were able to include an interview with him in our April edition and that he has allowed us to bring these images into the public domain.'

Other photographs included in the collection are from Wing's album shoot for Wings At The Speed Of Sound (1976) in which the band wear white jumpsuits and aviation goggles.

Wings pose for a casino-inspired photo in 1974 (pictured Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Sir Paul McCartney: Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English). Arrowsmith said of the images: 'They really capture the seminal moments of the shoot... The fun we were all having, plus Paul and Linda's closeness, it's the naturalness of the pictures that is the key to their success'

A laid back shot of Paul and Linda McCartney and his touring band on the cover of Off The Ground sitting with their trousers rolled up and their feet dangling off the edge of a railing

For the shoot for McCartney's ninth studio solo album Off The Ground in 1993, there were a wild array of costumes on set. Paul dons a militia jacket and smart white trousers while his wife stands to his left in a 1900s-style navy and pink dress and an admiral's hat.

For another picture the happy couple sport matching beards, with Linda wearing a spangly black dress and Paul a red coat.

A laid-back shot of Paul and Linda on the cover of Off the Ground show them sitting with their feet dangling off the edge of a railing with the touring band, their trousers rolled up.

Jeffery Felner, a historian of fashion and style, wrote: 'Arrowsmith is not a photographer that one can easily describe but it is safe to say that he is part Avedon, Hiro, Mapplethorpe, Ritts, Bourdin, Scavullo, Coffin, and more. His influences are vast, and his output is nothing less than astounding and prodigious.'

Linda, who came from a wealthy American family, made her own fortune from photography and music, heavily boosted by her vegetarian food business. The couple had three children together, the most famous of which is fashion designer Stella.

Linda died in April 1998 at the age of 56 after a three-year battle with breast cancer.