Prime Minister Theresa May – Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer 2022)
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.
Theresa May served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019, guiding the country through one of the most turbulent political moments in recent history. Prior to her premiership, she held the post of Home Secretary for six years, becoming one of the longest-serving occupants of the office in modern times. She has represented the constituency of Maidenhead in Parliament since 1997, shaping policy and public life for more than two decades.
An Important Moment in Modern British History
This sitting carried particular weight. Political portraiture of former Prime Ministers becomes part of the visual archive that future generations rely upon when studying the era. The responsibility is immense: to create not simply a likeness, but a record of character, resolve, and the human dimension behind leadership.
Prime Minister Theresa May – Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer 2022)
Prime Minister Theresa May – Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer 2022)
Theresa May approached the session with openness, curiosity, and remarkable composure. I directed her through a range of contemplative and reflective expressions, aiming to reveal the thoughtful, determined individual behind the public persona. Despite her enormous experience under the pressures of high office, she was an exceptionally easy and gracious sitter—intelligent, inquisitive, and genuinely engaging.
A Commitment to Historical Accuracy
My work—held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery—is rooted in realism. As both a portraitist and a historian, I strive to create images that endure as historical source material. In this sitting, as in all others, I resisted embellishment. Every detail, every line, and every subtle shift of expression was preserved to present a truthful, neutral record of Theresa May at a pivotal point in her life and legacy.
This portrait session is more than a photographic commission; it is a contribution to the ongoing visual history of British political leadership. It stands as part of a continuum—an evolving archive of those who have shaped the direction of the United Kingdom at its most defining moments.
Prime Ministers Portfolio
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