The Sunday Times Magazine will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a special free exhibition at Waterhall gallery in Birmingham.

The exhibition’s regional tour will be heading to the Birmingham gallery on Tuesday 22 May following popular runs at Paintworks in Bristol, Cube in Manchester and a hugely successful stint at the Saatchi Gallery in London, which attracted around 200,000 visitors and was extended twice due to public demand.

The regional tour, which ends at Waterhall, will showcase images from some of the world’s finest photographers who have worked for the Magazine over the years. Photographers featured include Don McCullin, David Bailey, Eve Arnold, Snowdon, Richard Avedon, Eugene Richards, Sam Taylor-Wood, Terry O'Neill, Chris Floyd and Stuart Franklin.

The exhibition will also highlight the contribution made to the Magazine by renowned writers such as Ian Fleming, Martin Amis, Bruce Chatwin, Jilly Cooper, Zoe Heller, James Fox and Nicholas Tomalin.

In February 1962, The Sunday Times launched the Magazine – the UK’s first colour newspaper supplement. “My God, this is going to be a disaster,” groaned Roy Thomson, the then owner of The Sunday Times. Newspapers in those days were dull dogs and the idea of putting a colourful magazine with a paper was seen as barmy.

Mark Boxer, the first editor of the Magazine, later recalled, “A curious truth soon emerged: readers liked it – so much so that about a quarter of a million new readers were attracted to the newspaper.” It was not only part of Swinging London, it helped to create the 1960s spirit. It was also great fun.

From the outset, the Magazine was innovative, enthralling readers with the peerless quality of its writing and photojournalism, while offering advertisers the opportunity to pitch their wares in full colour to a new generation of consumers.

Fifty years later, and much emulated, the Magazine continues to innovate. With its unique Spectrum photography section, the Magazine remains the first port of call for the world’s best photographers and photojournalists.

Sarah Baxter, editor of The Sunday Times Magazine, said, “We’re still here and producing the most exciting journalism and photography in the business. I grew up with The Sunday Times Magazine and am proud to be continuing a glorious tradition.”

Times+ members, subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times, are invited to an exclusive event at the gallery on Thursday 31 May. For more information, go to www.mytimesplus.co.uk

The Sunday Times Magazine 50th Anniversary Exhibition will be showing at:

Waterhall, Birmingham from Tuesday 22 May to Friday 1 June. Entry is free. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm.