David Cameron — Prime Minister Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer 2022)

This portrait of former Prime Minister David Cameron was one of the most demanding yet rewarding sittings of my career. Captured in London, the session offered a rare opportunity to portray a figure who played a defining role in a turbulent chapter of British political history. Serving as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, David Cameron remains a complex and often polarising figure, shaped by the pressures of leadership and the legacy of Brexit.

Ahead of the sitting, I studied existing portraits of Mr Cameron and found that few truly explored the nuances of his character. I wanted to take a different approach—one that presented him not as a politician in motion, but as a reflective statesman. My goal was to capture a moment of introspection: a leader contemplating the weight of his decisions and the arc of his public life.

The sitting itself was brief, lasting around thirty minutes, but highly focused. I directed Cameron through a series of quiet, meditative expressions, encouraging stillness and a contemplative presence. To my surprise, he proved to be an exceptionally cooperative sitter—curious, patient, and open to exploring the mood I wanted to achieve.

The resulting portraits are intentionally restrained, rooted in realism and historical accuracy. As both a portraitist and a historian, I aim to create images that function as truthful records—works that future viewers can read as genuine documents of a moment, a figure, and a political era.

These portraits of David Cameron now serve as part of my ongoing archive of contemporary political leadership, reflecting both the individual and the time in which he served.

Prime Ministers Portfolio

Featured

Tony Blair — A Portrait of Power and Reflection

In this newly unveiled portrait of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, portrait photographer Rory Lewis explores not the image of power but its human cost. Years after their first sitting, Lewis captures Blair with a softened expression yet undiminished intellect—an introspective study of conviction, consequence, and time.

Prime Minister Theresa May – Portrait Sitting

Photographing Prime Minister Theresa May stands as one of the most significant political sittings of my career. Lady May is the fourth British Prime Minister I have had the honour to photograph—an opportunity that places this session within a long-standing tradition of documenting national leadership for posterity.

Tony Blair — Portrait Sitting

Inviting former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair to sit for a portrait in London was a remarkable opportunity. Serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007, he was the third former leader I have photographed—an exciting and significant moment in my ongoing work documenting contemporary political history.