Previously unseen early pictures of David Bowie have been unveiled in a new book compiled by one of his first photographers. 

'Bowie Unseen: Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man', features extraordinary pictures of the famed artist from as far back as 1967.

It was the year that Bowie released his own self-titled deput LP — on the very same day the Beatles launched Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 

Although the album was not a success leading to the artist being dropped by his record company, the pictures from the shoot retained a unique significance. 

It was the year that Bowie released his own self-titled deput LP — on the very same day the Beatles launched Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Although his first album was not a success, leading to him being dropped by his record company, the pictures from the shoot retained a unique significance

The striking photographs were taken by photographer Gerald Fearnley, who described the famed artist as 'great with kids, very pleasant, always polite'

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'David, especially, seemed very serious about what he was doing, he seemed trustworthy,' photographer Gerald Fearnley wrote in the book's forward. 

'He and my brother would often be in the kitchen writing.

'He used to play with the children, games of Monopoly or teaching them how to play the penny whistle.

'Bowie Unseen: Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man', features extraordinary pictures of the famed artist from as far back as 1967 when he was still relatively unknown 

The pictures show a fresh-faced David Bowie on the cusp of stardom. In 1969 he would go on to launch what would come to be known as the 'first' proper David Bowie album 

'David was great with kids, very pleasant, always polite.'

Mr Fearnley started his career as an RAF photographer before opening a studio near Oxford Street in London.

His pictures were found at Mr Fearnly along with his son Roger checked the attic to see if thoe early negatives and prints were still stored. 

In his book he says he is unable to remember why Bowie asked him to do the shoot, adding: 'probably because I was the only one he knew with a studio and a camera.

A picture of Bowie wit the second group he would record with, The Mannish Boys. The star refused to cut his hair to appear on a BBC programme 

By the time of his death aged 69 in January 2016, he was recognised as one of the most iconic and original performers of his and any other era

David Bowie poses for a portrait dressed as 'Ziggy Stardust' in a hotel room in 1973 in New York City. It was his first and arguably greatest alter ego

'I was as much of a professional photographer as he probably knew back then, but I only did still life photography. 

'Clients would send me items to photograph for their advertisements. 

'I worked with cosmetic companies, Dunhill cigarettes, Schweppes; one of my biggest clients were the book clubs. I must have taken 7,000 photos of books.'

Bowie Unseen: Portraits of an Artist as a Young Man' is published by ACC Editions.  

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