Mr Elliott who took the picture in 1976 while he was a photography student, used his then girlfriend Fiona Butler, 18, as a model. She borrowed a white tennis dress, a racket and balls and Martin took a photo of her from behind as she lifted her dress and touched her bare bum.

He sold the image to poster chain Athena and it went on to become one of the most famous images in the world. It was first published it as part of a calendar for the 1977 Silver Jubilee – the same year Virginia Wade achieved the Wimbledon ladies single title.

The picture – called Tennis Girl – went on to sell more than two million copes in Athena shops and continued to sell millions after the firm went bust in the 1990s. Mr Elliott retained the copyright to the image and made a fortune but Fiona was never paid a penny – but did eventually marry a millionaire.

He retired to Cornwall 11 years ago after living in Stourbridge and Portishead. He died peacefully aged 63 at his home in Perranwell Station, near Truro, Cornwall, late last month after a ten year battle with cancer.

His widow Noelle, who met her husband in 1987, said the picture had actually hindered his career because no one would commission him as they feared he would be too expensive.

“Martin sold the image to Athena – who turned it into a poster – but he retained copyright. I am still getting royalties to this day,” she said.

“They are only a few pence now but because it has sold all over the world we have done well out of it.

“Martin always felt he had the good times before the business became overrun with image-conscious people and cut-throat deals.”

She added: “He had a marvellous sense of humour and was a great joker. He always thought he would get better. He loved Cornwall and was very content.”

He studied at the Birmingham School of Photography and he took the image at the uni’s tennis courts in Edgbaston.
Speaking before his death he said: “I can remember it was an afternoon in September at the end of the long hot summer.

“It was over very quickly. I only took one roll of film, which is pretty feeble for a photographer and I just hoped I’d got the shot.”

Mrs Butler, now 50, later married millionaire Ian Walker and the couple live with their children in Stourport, Worcestershire. Speaking in 2007, she said that, despite not being paid, she was proud of her iconic status.

“I can remember the day quite clearly. When the picture got so popular I was quite amused that something taken that afternoon could get so big,” she said.

“It became one of those pictures that everyone knows and everyone’s seen.

“I like the fact that it’s got a bit of an air of mystery about it. I think that’s what helped with its longevity, because people kept wondering if it was anyone famous.”

She added: “I remember going to a party with my husband and people were saying ‘is that the girl in the photograph?’. They looked me up and down and said ‘I don’t think so’. My son’s headmaster once said to me that he used to have it on his wall at university. I’ve got no objections to it whatsoever.

“My children have never been upset about it. It’s really nothing that anyone could be offended by. It’s just a bit of fun. ‘I think it was banned in a couple of countries but really I don’t think there was anything to get upset about.

“It was just a picture of a very sort of ordinary girl and there’s something in that that appeals to people.”