Chief of the Defence Staff
The Royal Artillery Museum has acquired a portrait of Field Marshal The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux, photographed by Rory Lewis as part of his non-profit military portraiture project. Lord Richards, the twelfth Gunner to reach the rank of Field Marshal and former Chief of the Defence Staff (2009–2013), was recently appointed Patron of the Royal Artillery Museum.
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 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 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 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.
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