Through the work of the Rory Lewis Non-Profit, Rory Lewis has dedicated himself to documenting the leadership of the British Army at a pivotal moment in its modern history. This gallery brings together a selection of formal portrait sittings that honour senior officers not simply as ranks or titles, but as custodians of tradition, service, and national responsibility.
Rooted in the visual language of historic military portraiture, these works seek to preserve the continuity of the Army’s heritage while acknowledging the realities of contemporary service. Each portrait is approached as an act of record-keeping as much as artistry—capturing character, authority, and the quiet weight of command.
As part of the non-profit’s mission, these images are created to ensure that the leadership, values, and institutional memory of the British Army are preserved for future generations, reinforcing the enduring importance of the Army’s role in British history and public life.
On October 10, 2025, Rory Lewis welcomed Field Marshal The Lord Houghton of Richmond back to his London studio for a second portrait sitting, more than a decade after their first session in 2014. The portrait, part of Rory Lewis Non-Profit’s mission to document all living Field Marshals, captures Lord Houghton’s journey from active command to statesman. Commissioned into the Green Howards in 1974, Lord Houghton served in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and as Chief of the Defence Staff before being promoted to Field Marshal in 2025. The portrait, rendered in Lewis’s signature chiaroscuro style, reflects leadership, wisdom, and legacy.