Opening today (March 11th) at the University of Brighton Gallery is George Hardie - 50 Odd Years, a retrospective exhibition of work by Professor George Hardie, renowned graphic designer, illustrator and educator.

Hardie, who worked with the Hipgnosis team of Storm Thorgerson, Po Powell and Peter Christopherson, is behind some of the most iconic album covers of 20th Century. A graphic designer, illustrator and educator, trained at St Martin's and the Royal College of Art, Hardie worked as a designer/illustrator for more than 40 years, making illustrations for clients around the world. He was the cover artist behind Led Zeppelin's debut album Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon.

Hardie told local newspaper The Argus: "People can expect a view of 50 years' work covering extremely public projects, from record covers for Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd to postage stamps for the Royal Mail. It is also concerned with self-publishing, collecting, drawing and visual ideas." Included is the original artwork for Led Zep's debut album, which Hardie notes "is on a tiny scrap of paper. It is totally recognisable but very strange. It was then blown up for the album cover".

The location of the exhibition is a logical one: Hardie taught illustration at the University of Brighton from the early 1980s until his retirement in 2014. He continues with PhD students, having become Professor in 1990. The exhibition is open to the public, Monday-Saturday, between 10am-5pm but closed Sundays. It runs until April 7th. More information here.