Born Kyril Semeonovitch Arapov, he left Russia after the Revolution and spent time in Paris and Germany before coming to England, having learnt photography at the studio of Annelise Kretschmer in Dortmund. In 1939 Arapoff left Oxford and went to work in the film industry, including the Crown Film Unit; and from 1961 until his death in 1976 he worked for the National Coal Board Film Unit.
Arapoff's mother was a governess to a Russian emigré family in Oxford, and Cyril came to stay with Captain V. Narishkin and his family at 3 St Andrew's Road in Headington, and from 1933 his photographic studio was in this house.

Naturalisation Certificate: Kyrill Semenovitch Arapoff. From Russia. Resident in London. Certificate BNA4686 issued 11 June 1949. Note(s): Alias: Cyril Arapoff.

“ARAPOFF – On 14th October, 1976, suddenly, in London, Cyril. Service at Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, Emperors gate, S.W.7, on Friday, 22 October, at 12 noon. Flowers to Kenyons, 9 Pond St., N.W.3.” (The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Oct 19, 1976; pg. 24; Issue 59838.)

Born Kyril Semeonovitch Arapov, he left Russia after the Revolution and spent time in Paris and Germany before coming to England, having learnt photography at the studio of Annelise Kretschmer in Dortmund. In 1939 Arapoff left Oxford and went to work in the film industry, including the Crown Film Unit; and from 1961 until his death in 1976 he worked for the National Coal Board Film Unit.
Arapoff's mother was a governess to a Russian emigré family in Oxford, and Cyril came to stay with Captain V. Narishkin and his family at 3 St Andrew's Road in Headington, and from 1933 his photographic studio was in this house.

Naturalisation Certificate: Kyrill Semenovitch Arapoff. From Russia. Resident in London. Certificate BNA4686 issued 11 June 1949. Note(s): Alias: Cyril Arapoff.

“ARAPOFF – On 14th October, 1976, suddenly, in London, Cyril. Service at Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, Emperors gate, S.W.7, on Friday, 22 October, at 12 noon. Flowers to Kenyons, 9 Pond St., N.W.3.” (The Times (London, England), Tuesday, Oct 19, 1976; pg. 24; Issue 59838.)