Only a handful of Field Marshals remain today, and with His Majesty The King’s appointment of two new holders of the rank in 2025 — both of whom I also had the honour to photograph — this portrait becomes part of a rare and significant visual archive documenting Britain’s highest military leadership.
Lord Houghton’s distinguished career reflects the evolution of the modern British Army. Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1974 after graduating from St Peter’s College, Oxford, he went on to command his battalion in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and later served as *Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq. His leadership culminated in his appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff in 2013, overseeing the Armed Forces during a critical period of transition following the Afghanistan campaign.
Promoted to Field Marshal in June 2025, alongside his predecessor The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, Lord Houghton remains a figure of immense respect and reflection within the Armed Forces and the House of Lords, where he serves as a crossbench peer.
Our 2025 sitting sought to explore that evolution — from active command to elder statesmanship. The portrait captures not only the stature of a Field Marshal but also the calm wisdom of a man whose service has spanned war, reform, and ceremony. Rendered in my signature chiaroscuro style, the image emphasizes depth, restraint, and the gravity of leadership earned through experience.
To photograph Lord Houghton once again, now bearing the baton of Field Marshal, was to complete a narrative — one that began in uniformed service and continues in reflection and legacy. Through Heroes in Focus, I aim to ensure that such stories endure, preserving for posterity the humanity and history behind the rank.
