Hurn was born on 21 July 1934 in Redhill, Surrey, England. He was raised in Cardiff, Wales.[1] Because of his dyslexia he joined the school camera club. After leaving school he headed for London, hoping to become a photographer.[1]
Hurn discussing Democracy in Action in Wales; 2012
Hurn is a self-taught photographer. He began his career in 1955 when he worked for Reflex Agency. He gained his reputation as a photojournalist for his documentation of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, and is featured in two of Ken Russell's films for the Monitor television arts' series, A House in Bayswater (1960),[2] and Watch the Birdie (1963).[3] In 1965 he became associated with Magnum Photos and became a full member in 1967.
Hurn returned to Wales in the late 1960s, initially living in a van for a year photographing the country.[1] He was married from 1964–71 to American actress Alita Naughton (1942-2019), best known for her role in Ken Russell’s French Dressing (1964).
In 1973 he set up the School of Documentary Photography in Newport, Wales. Eventually, he turned away from documentary photojournalism, bringing a more personal approach to his image making. He says, "There are many forms of photography. I consider myself simply a recorder of that which I find of interest around me. I personally have no desire to create or stage direct ideas."[6] His book, Wales: Land of My Father (2000), illustrates the traditional and the modern aspects of Wales.
Hurn has been an avid collector of photography. Remarkably, he has amassed his private collection by swapping works with other photographers. The collection National Museum Cardiff comprises approximately 700 photographs. Swaps: Photographs from the David Hurn Collection,National Museum Cardiff, Wales, September 2017 – April 2018.[9]
In 2017 Hurn donated 1500 of his photographs, and 700 of other peoples' photographs, to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.[10][11] He built his private collection of other peoples' work by swapping prints with them. National Museum Cardiff held an exhibition of the latter collection in 2017/2018, entitled Swaps: Photographs from the David Hurn Collection.[9][10]
On Being a Photographer: a Practical Guide. Photography & the Creative Process: a Series by LensWork Publishing. Anacortes, WA: Lenswork Publishing, 1997. ISBN978-1-888803-06-8. With Bill Jay. And subsequent editions.
On Looking at Photographs: A Practical Guide. Anacortes, WA: Lenswork Publishing, 2000. ISBN978-1-888803-09-9. With Bill Jay.
2014: Land of My Father,Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow, 2014.[14] Part of the Britain in Focus theme of Photobiennale 2014, the UK-Russia Year of Culture.
2017: 44 Mile Radius, Tilt & Shift Gallery, Llanrwst, Wales, 2017.[15] Photographs made by Hurn within a 44-mile radius of Llanrwst.