Rory Lewis Non-Profit
As 2025 draws to a close, this year stands as one of the most significant in the life of the Rory Lewis Non-Profit. It has been a year defined by responsibility, remembrance, and the continued belief that portraiture can serve history — not as decoration, but as record.
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 MoreI am very pleased to be able to provide The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum with a portrait of Captain Massey, from the 1st Battalion, The Rifles, for inclusion in their newly redeveloped galleries in Salisbury.
Read MoreYork Army Museum, custodian of more than three centuries of British military heritage, has acquired the portrait of Field Marshal The Lord Houghton of Richmond.
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 MoreOn October 7, 2023, Israel was plunged into chaos when Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack, leaving over a thousand civilians dead and the nation on the brink of war. Among the Americans closest to the events was Gunnery Sergeant Marcus Lewis, Commander of the Marine Security Guard Detachment at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
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 2022, Rory Lewis Non-Profit was honoured to record a formal portrait of General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, KCB, CBE, undertaken in London during his tenure as Chief of the General Staff. The commission was created for permanent display within the gallery of former Chiefs—an historic lineage marking the stewardship of the British Army’s senior leadership.
Read MoreIt was an honor and privilege to collaborate with the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), capturing portraits of its distinguished staff and cadets. This significant project was proudly funded by the Rory Lewis Non-Profit, founded by portrait photographer Rory Lewis, whose career spans more than two decades dedicated to preserving the legacies of military and service personnel through powerful portraiture and storytelling.
Read MoreThe Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is among the most distinguished mounted units in the world. Tasked with ceremonial duties, they embody centuries of tradition as part of the Household Division, serving as the Monarch’s official bodyguard and providing escorts at state and royal occasions.
Read MoreIn 2019, the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards commissioned a series of portraits of their Commanding Officer and Senior Warrant Officers, photographed in Windsor. These sittings form a vital addition to the Rory Lewis Non-Profit Military Portrait Archive, an ongoing effort to document the leadership and heritage of British and Allied service members. The project seeks to protect these likenesses for national history, museum collections, and future generations.
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 MoreOn 5 June 2018, Rory Lewis Non-Profit visited the 1º Reggimento Bersaglieri in Cosenza as part of its ongoing mission to document, preserve, and honour the human face of military service.
Read MoreAmong the many regiments I photographed, the 1st Battalion, The Rifles stands out for its deep-rooted traditions and enduring character. Little has changed for The Rifles since the Napoleonic Wars—they remain at the forefront of battle, defined by precision, independence, and quiet professionalism. True to their motto, Swift and Bold, they carry no flag; instead, their Battle Honours are worn proudly upon their uniforms.
Read MoreWorking with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles stands as one of the defining highlights of the Soldiery project, produced through the Rory Lewis Non-Profit. While many civilians have a general awareness of the Gurkhas, few fully understand the depth of tradition, discipline, and identity that defines this extraordinary regiment.
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 MoreThe 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, based in Tidworth, represents one of the most historically significant infantry lineages in the British Army. Their iconic ceremonial uniforms—rooted in traditions dating back to the Victorian era and the height of the British Empire—carry centuries of regimental identity, inherited from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
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