RICHARD Young's photographic experience knows no boundaries as this exhibition spanning 30 years of celebrity picture taking sets out to prove.

The north London photographer started his career with a portrait of Paul Getty in 1974 after the kidnapping. He then established media interest with his images of Richard Burton's 50th birthday party at the Dorchester Hotel in London and has gone on to be a photographer of the beautiful people at the Oscars for Vanity Fair.

Richard Young has captured every celebrity walk of life on camera, from past to present day. The exhibition demonstrates his work from the 70s 80s and 90s plus recent work and asks the question in terms of celebrity 'What is it's true value?' The exhibition includes images of her Majesty the Queen in respectful hats and frocks and the queen of bad publicity outrageous rock chick Courtney Love. Young's camera achievements are endless, ranging from images of royalty, world leaders, superstars of rock and pop, movie legends, showbiz personalities, supermodels, fashion icons to sports heroes .

A talented photographer has the ability to capture that 'certain something' as the black and white images of Johnny Rotten in his younger days illustrate. The foul-mouthed punk rebel is portrayed with a boyish innocence, while Elizabeth Taylor, being made a Dame in 2000, remains a classic image of the ultimate screen goddess.

The late Diana, Princess Of Wales was frequently photographed by Richard Young and considered her a personal friend. He once felt frustrated while having lunch with Diana as she tucked into a chocolate cornflake cake, lipstick smudged and with chocolate all over her face. What a great photo opportunity this would have been if it hadn't been for her detectives keeping a watchful eye through the window.

Images of modern day celebrities such as Whitney, Britney and Posh and Becks are obviously there but so is the ultimate film legend Bette Davies, drag queen Divine and former prime minister Margaret Thatcher to name but a few.

Many of the world's most powerful men have been photographed by Young including President Castro of Cuba, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair. In complete contrast the hilarious booze orientated antics of Jay Kay have been captured perfectly and as funny as ever.

A youthful photo of Rod Stewart and Britt Eckland from 1976 shows them both wearing make-up and could almost be a competition between the two on who has the most carefully applied eyeliner.

Of course no star-studded photography exhibition would be complete without the diva and they were most definitely out in force. Included here were pictures of Joan Collins, Liza Minnelli, Mariah Carey and Boy George.

Richard Young had been advised by Versace to take pictures only from the right side of Elizabeth Hurley when she wore 'that dress' to achieve it's full impact. The black dress held together by gold safety pins shot Liz into the limelight at the 1994 premiere of Four Weddings And A Funeral, overshadowing the film's top star Hugh Grant.

The exhibition may be bringing celebrity status into question but it is quite simply a feast of the rich, famous, beautiful and talented, the powerful and the never to be forgotten. It is also a great reminder of that other celebrity status, the downright badly behaved.

Fifteen Minutes, Thirty Years Of Celebrity Photography by Richard Young is on at The Hospital, 24 Endell Street, Covent Garden WC2H 9HQ until August 22. Admission £6.00 concs. £4.00 Opening Times , Mon- Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 12pm - 8pm. Call 020 7170 9100 for details.