Sir Paul McCartney has spoken of his delight that his late wife Linda's photographs are to be shown in the first major UK exhibition of her work.

He said he was “surprised” but “pleased” at the public interest in the exhibition that opens in London on Friday.

The former Beatle said he and the couple's four children had a close personal interest in the work. “Since she passed away, the thing is that you worry that she's not around, so her stuff is not going to be exhibited,” he said.

“We work as a family to ensure that her work is still exhibited, so it means that people are exposed who haven't seen it before. It's great for me just to remind people how great she was.”

Linda McCartney, who died of breast cancer in 1998, was an art graduate who turned to photography and captured early photos of the Rolling Stones as well as Sixties musical greats from Janis Joplin to Jimi Hendrix and, of course, The Beatles.

The exhibition, at the James Hyman Gallery in Savile Row, includes less well known works including intimate family pictures and landscapes. It has been curated by Sir Paul with their photographer daughter, Mary.

Linda McCartney Photographs runs at the James Hyman Gallery from Friday until 19 July