Storm Thorgerson has been designing album cover art for over 35 years. He has designed many of the most famous album covers in history, including Pink Floyd's instantly recognisable Dark Side of the Moon. Many of Thorgerson's classic album covers have become masterpieces in their own right. Thorgerson's designs are noticeable for their surreal elements. He often places objects out of their traditional context, setting them in vast spaces that give them an awkward appearance whilst highlighting their beauty.
Born in Dartford, Kent in 1944, Thorgerson went to school with Roger Waters and Syd Barrett. He studied English and Philosophy at university before going on to complete an MA in Film and Television at the Royal College of Art. His career as an artist began accidentally; around the time of his graduation from the Royal College Pink Floyd were completing their second album A Saucerful of Secrets, when a friend turned down the job of creating its sleeve. With no background in art or graphic design Thorgerson volunteered to step into the fold. Along with his friend Aubrey Powell he set up the British graphic art group Hipgnosis in 1968, they specialised in creative photography for album covers. Many of Thorgerson's album covers were designed before the advent of advanced computer design software, and were created through the use of photography, paint and sculpture.