John A. Varley

John A. Varley

Sculptor Henry Moore at his 80th birthday exhibition, photographed in April 1978. Bradford Art Galleries and Museums, Leeds, United Kingdom.

John A. Varley (1934–2010) was a British photographer who spent the majority of his career working for The Daily Mirror. 

Varley covered five World Cups, beginning with England’s 1966 victory, where he captured colour photographs during the final – a rarity at the time. He also documented Leeds United during the Don Revie era; many of his photographs remain in use by the club today and have been published extensively.

Beyond football, Varley covered the 1968 Olympics, Muhammad Ali fights, and Test cricket. His work spans royal, political, and cultural life, photographing hundreds of images of the British royal family, prime ministers, presidents, and musicians, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Richard Burton, Dustin Hoffman, and Louis Armstrong.