Alexander Proud | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 September 1969 |
| Alma mater | University of York |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Alexander Proud is a British entrepreneur born in Hove, England on 14 September 1969. [1] He was educated at Tonbridge School and then the University of York, where he studied politics. [2] [3] His father was the stamp dealer Ted Proud. [4]
In 1998 he founded Proud Gallery, [5] in London, which has since grown into the Proud Group.
On leaving the University of York in 1991, Proud began an apprenticeship with a Japanese art dealer in London before opening his first gallery in 1994, selling rare Japanese prints.[ citation needed ]
In the autumn of 1998, Proud founded the photography gallery Proud Central in London’s West End. [6] It has since re-branded as Proud Galleries.
Since its inception, the Proud Group has expanded into a number of areas including live music events, cabaret shows and restaurants. [7]
Proud Camden was located in the 200-year-old Grade II listed Horse Hospital in the Stables Market in Camden, London. [8] The venue has been restored, but it retains most of its original features. It closed in 2018. [9]
In 2018, Proud Embankment was opened under Waterloo Station. [10]
In a 2020 investigation by The Times , five young female employees accused Proud of bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Proud denied the allegations. [2]
With photographer Rankin, Proud co-founded the photographic art book publishers Vision On, [11] launching with Rankin’s books Nudes, Snog and CeleBritation, Audrey Hepburn by Bob Willoughby, and over 100 other titles.
Since 2013, Proud featured as a returning dealer on the Channel 4 series Four Rooms , [12] wherein entrepreneurs and businessmen and women are pitched collectibles from members of the public. Four Rooms won Best Daytime award at 2014's Royal Television Society awards. [13]
Proud served as a judge on Channel 4’s Picture This with photographer Martin Parr of the Magnum Photos photo agency and Brett Rogers of the Photographers' Gallery. [14]
Proud wrote a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph from November 2015 to July 2016. [15] He has also written for the London Evening Standard [16] and The Sunday Times . [17]
Proud is active in politics engaging with development proposals local to the Camden community, serving as a vice chairman for Camden Town Unlimited, and also worked as an advisor to the former Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy. [18] On the day of the 2017 general election, Proud emailed over 500,000 voters offering them a free drink if they voted progressively. The Electoral Commission warned he could face imprisonment and fines for bribery. Proud said the offer was a joke sent out of "desperate frustration". [19]
Proud has been invited to judge several photography competitions including the Nikon Press Awards and The Observer Hodge Awards. [20]
In 2008 Proud co-founded the Sony World Photography Award. [21]
As of 2013, Proud lived between East Sussex and London. [22]