Search to find subjects of 1950s photo portraits

The identities of the people Herbert Shergold photographed remain a mystery

A new exhibition has opened featuring portraits of ordinary people, dressed up to look like Hollywood celebrities.

The photographs were taken by Bristolian photographer Herbert Shergold in the 1950s and 60s, using glass plate negatives.

Mr Shergold died in obscurity in 1982, with no relatives, and the exhibition at Bristol Photo Festival is the first time his work has ever been shown publicly.

"Very little information on Herbert's life is available, so we're hoping people will recognise the sitters and we can learn more about him through that," said festival director Alejandro Acín.

It is believed Mr Shergold approached some of his subjects on the street outside his studio at 6 Gloucester Road, Bristol, and asked to photograph them.

He used glass plate negatives, by then an antiquated style of photography, which was more popular in the late 19th century.

The glass plates were able to be touched up, to smooth out wrinkles and other imperfections, which wasn't possible on celluloid film.

It is believed Mr Shergold approached his sitters in the street and asked to photograph them

A number of the portraits celebrate the male form or feature sitters in drag. Mr Acín believes Mr Shergold was gay, at a time when homosexuality was a crime in the UK.

"When you look at the photographs and realise the context, the whole exhibition acquires a new level of meaning," he said.

Curator of the exhibition, Hedy Van Erp, said Mr Shergold's studio offered a "safe space" for people to explore their sexuality.

"We can see this in his portraits, how he offered men a place to dress up, and who might like to use make up," she said.

Just one grainy photo survives of Herbert Shergold, seen here on the far left, sitting next to Elizabeth Fry, of the Fry's chocolate family

"We want to invite people to see these images, and so far two people have been recognised from the photos," said Mr Acín.

The free exhibition runs until 17 November at The Launderette on 145 Cheltenham Road, close to where Mr Shergold's studios were.