Political Portrait Photographer

(The Guardian Interview) Rory Lewis's best photograph: David Cameron looks back without regret.

January 23, 2019 in Political Portraiture, Editorial, In the Press

This picture has actually lost me a few jobs. Plus I think I might even have lost a flat because of it. I was looking at a property and was chatting to the estate agent and told them that I’d recently shot David Cameron. We put an offer in – for the asking price – but it was turned down. So yes, I do suspect people don’t like David Cameron.

David Cameron — Prime Minister Portrait Sitting

June 20, 2018 in Prime Minister, Political Portraiture, World Leaders

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.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool — Councillor Malcolm Kennedy

January 08, 2018 in Political Portraiture

This portrait of Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, former Lord Mayor of Liverpool and long-serving councillor elected in 1998, was created many years ago and now forms part of my political portrait archive. During his tenure as First Citizen, Councillor Kennedy acted as a vital representative for the city—promoting Liverpool, strengthening community engagement, and building national and international connections.

Baroness Rona Fairhead CBE — UK Government Portrait Commission

October 20, 2017 in Political Portraiture, Editorial

I was commissioned by the UK Government to create an official portrait sitting with Baroness Rona Fairhead CBE, one of Britain’s most accomplished business leaders and public servants. As Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion at the Department for International Trade, Baroness Fairhead played a vital role in shaping the UK’s global commercial strategy, following a distinguished career across media, finance, and international business.

Sir John Major Portrait Sitting

July 21, 2017 in Political Portraiture, Prime Minister, World Leaders

In 2016, I reached out to Sir John to request a sitting. We initially planned to photograph in Autumn of that year, but the seismic events of Brexit—where Sir John played a prominent role as a vocal Remain campaigner—delayed the session. It wasn’t until July 2018 that our schedules aligned and the portrait could finally take place in London.