Military Leaders
I am honoured to share that my portrait of Field Marshal The Lord Houghton of Richmond, GCB, CBE, DL, has been accepted into the Royal Collection — one of thirteen works from my non-profit archive now preserved within it, and among the most recent.
Read MoreI am delighted to share that my two portraits of His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, photographed as Royal Honorary Colonel of The Honourable Artillery Company, have been accepted into the Royal Collection — part of the thirteen works from my non-profit archive now held there.
Read MoreIt is with great pride that I share that three further portraits of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent — photographed in Royal Air Force uniform — have been accepted into the Royal Collection. They join the Field Marshal portraits as part of a body of thirteen works from my non-profit archive now preserved within that collection.
Read MoreI am profoundly honoured to share that my three portraits of His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, photographed in his ceremonial uniform as Field Marshal, have been accepted into the Royal Collection — among thirteen works from my non-profit archive now held within that historic institution. To have these images preserved in the nation's foremost royal collection is the highest honour the Soldiery project has yet received.
Read MoreI am honoured to share that my portrait of Field Marshal The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, GCB, CBE, DSO, DL, has been accepted into the Royal Collection, completing the thirteen works from my non-profit archive now held within that institution.
Read MoreIt is a moment of real significance for my non-profit archive that my portrait of Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank has been accepted into the Royal Collection, among thirteen works from the archive now held within that institution. This was the first portrait of a British Field Marshal I ever made, and to see it enter the Royal Collection feels like the completion of a circle.
Read MoreThis 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreField 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.
Read MoreAmong 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreOur 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.
Read MoreOne 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.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreLieutenant General Bashall stands as a towering figure in both stature and reputation. A veteran of the Iraq War, he commanded the 1st Mechanised Brigade in Basra in 2007, leading with courage and distinction. Earlier in his career, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) in Afghanistan, earning recognition as one of the British Army’s most experienced combat commanders. Deeply proud of his service with the Parachute Regiment, his career exemplifies leadership, resilience, and devotion to duty.
Read MoreLieutenant 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read More
