Rory Lewis: Portrait & Headshot Photographer

This portrait, created as part of the ongoing work of the Rory Lewis Non-Profit, documents General Sir Roly Walker, the professional head of the British Army.

Commissioned into the Irish Guards in 1993, General Walker has commanded at company, battle group, brigade, and strategic levels, with operational service in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He commanded the Grenadier Guards in 2009 and later served across brigade, divisional, army, and strategic headquarters.

In October 2025, I had the honor of photographing Major General James Bowder OBE, the third consecutive Major-General of the Household Division I have captured for the Rory Lewis Non-Profit. Following my portraits of Major General Benjamin Bathurst CBE and Major General Chris Ghika CBE, this latest sitting continues an evolving visual record of those entrusted with upholding the highest traditions of the British Army and the Crown.

Field Marshal David Julian Richards, Baron Richards of Herstmonceux, GCB, CBE, DSO, DL—appointed Honorary Field Marshal by His Majesty The King in June 2025—sat for my non-profit archive on Monday, 6 October 2025. This portrait marks a significant addition to our mission to document the living history of Britain’s senior military leadership through the art of portraiture.

Among the most meaningful moments in my non-profit archive was the privilege of photographing Field Marshal Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank. It was not simply a portrait sitting, but an encounter with a man whose life spanned the defining military and political chapters of modern Britain.

The Rory Lewis Non-Profit is proud to have funded the latest addition to the distinguished gallery of British Army leaders: a portrait of General Sir Patrick Sanders, KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC Gen. Serving as Chief of the General Staff since June 2022, Sir Patrick’s career exemplifies the leadership, dedication, and strategic excellence that define the modern British Army.

The Rory Lewis Non-Profit is honored to have captured and preserved the legacy of Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the current Chief of the Defence Staff, marking him as the fifth Chief of the Defence Staff photographed by Rory Lewis. This portrait continues the Non-Profit’s mission to document and celebrate the leadership and service of Britain’s most distinguished military figures.

In 2021, I had the privilege of photographing Major GeneralChris Ghika CBE at Horse Guards, London — a setting steeped in history, once occupied by the Duke of Wellington himself. The portrait sought to capture not just a military leader, but a custodian of national pageantry and heritage.

Our 2019 sitting with Major General Benjamin Bathurst CBE of the Welsh Guards took place at Horse Guards, London, within the historic office once occupied by the Duke of Wellington. Seated behind the very desk that once belonged to the “Iron Duke,” Bathurst joined a long line of leaders who have shaped the ceremonial face of Britain’s Armed Forces.

One of the most meaningful opportunities through my non-profit archive has been the privilege of photographing senior figures within the British Armed Forces. Among these sittings, capturing a British Field Marshal stands as both an artistic milestone and a moment of profound historical significance.

As Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Major General Bruce has dedicated his life to leadership, service, and the embodiment of the Army’s values. This portrait session stands as a testament to his extraordinary contributions and the pride he carries in representing one of Britain’s most historic regiments.

Lieutenant General Mark Poffley OBE graciously accepted my invitation to sit for a formal portrait at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Whitehall, London. Commissioned into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1985, Lieutenant General Poffley dedicated more than three decades to the British Army, serving with distinction across every major conflict of the last thirty years—including the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, operations in the Republic of Macedonia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

In January 2016, Brigadier Günter Eisl, then Austrian General and Defence Attaché to the United Kingdom, sat for a formal portrait at the Austrian Embassy in London. The sitting formed part of my ongoing, independent body of work documenting senior military leadership—work that now sits within the mission of the Rory Lewis non-profit.