Justin de Villeneuve (born Nigel John Davies[1]) is a British businessman, known for being supermodel Twiggy's manager from 1966 to 1973.
Justin de Villeneuve | |
|---|---|
 Justin de Villeneuve with Twiggy (1973) | |
| Born | Nigel John Davies Hackney, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Manager, businessman, photographer |
| Years active | ca. 1966–present |
| Known for | Manager to Twiggy |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2, including Poppy de Villeneuve |
De Villeneuve worked as a Mayfair hairdresser under the name Christian St. Forget,[2] before meeting Twiggy as a teenager. They became a couple, and as her career as a model took off, he became her manager and helped to make her famous.[3] Twiggy severed ties with him in 1973 and later downplayed his role in her success.[4]
De Villeneuve was married to model Jan de Villeneuve (born Janet Griswold) and has two daughters, illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve (born 5 June 1975) and photographer Poppy de Villeneuve (born 22 May 1979).
From 1975 to 1977, he co-managed (along with his partner, Bryan Morrison) the British proto-punk rock band Doctors of Madness, led by Richard Strange. In 1978, he became the manager of singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul, during the period when she recorded her Tigers and Fireflies album, and in 1980 he also managed Clifford T. Ward, another UK singer-songwriter.[5]
De Villeneuve married designer Sue Timney at Chelsea Town Hall in 2007.[6] The marriage lasted for ten years.[7]
Early life
editNigel John Davies was born in 1939 in London's East End, within a mile of the Bow Bells. His father was a bricklayer while his mother stayed at home. During the Blitz, he stayed with JB Priestley in Herefordshire. He left school early at 15 to box under the name Tiger Davies.[8]
References
edit- ^ Ariel Leve and Robin Morgan (2013). 1963: The Year of the Revolution: How Youth Changed the World with Music, Art, and Fashion. Harper Collins. p. 42. ISBN 9780062120465.
- ^ Adrian Room (2010). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins (fifth ed.). McFarland. p. 144. ISBN 9780786457632.
- ^ "The English Dream". Time. New York. 7 February 1972. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ Saner, Emine (1 August 2006). "Summer of hate". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
- ^ An Affectionate Punch by Justin de Villeneuve, Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd, London ISBN 0-283-99346-4
- ^ Millard, Rosie (3 October 2012). "Interview: interior designer Sue Timney". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ^ Maslen, Cherry (6 February 2019). "For sale: the OTT Kent home of designer Sue Timney, famed for her monochrome prints". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ Husband, Stuart (May 2022). "The Ballad of Justin and Twiggy". The Rake. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
External links
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