Rory Lewis (born 5 October 1982 in Chester, England) is a British photographer known for his celebrity portrait photography. Lewis's inspirations include the works of the artists Hans Holbein the younger, Caravaggio, Titian and Thomas Lawrence and the German Expressionist movement of the 1920s.
Education Lewis originally studied Medieval History at King's College London.
Works In 2012, Lewis held his first exhibition, Keeping Abreast, at the Bluecoat Gallery in Liverpool. Held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, the collection featured unseen portraits.
In 2013, his portrait of actor David Warner was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, London. The portrait was Warner's first sitting since Cecil Beaton photographed him in the mid-1960s.
In 2014, Lewis photographed and held his first major portrait photography exhibition. Entitled 'Northerners', the project was an entirely new collection of portraits from a cross section of northern English actors, celebrities, sports personalities, and politicians. Held in aid of UNICEF, the exhibition featured portraits of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Emma Rigby, Beth Tweddle, Craig Charles, General Sir Nick Houghton and Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.
In May 2014, Lewis photographed Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez in a campaign for Pepsi.Rory Lewis Luis Suarez for Pepsi https://www.rorylewis.studio/blog/luis-suarez-for-pepsi/
In 2016 Lewis photographed all the remaining Victoria Cross & George Cross recipients for a new portrait project.Rory Lewis Website Victoria & George Cross http://rorylewisphotography.com/portfolio/victoria-george-cross-portraits/
In 2017 Lewis photographed actor Rufus Sewell in Los Angeles. The portrait was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery.
Throughout 2016–17, Lewis embarked on a portrait project entitled SoldieryLiverpool Echo Newspaper (Soldiery) British Army Portraits http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/portraits-parade-photography-exhibition-armed-12882717 British Army Portraits. Photographing over 278 British soldiers, and publishing a book of the collection.Rory Lewis Book Soldiery British Army Portraits https://www.rorylewis.studio/soldiery/ The collection was exhibited at Armed Forces Day Liverpool 24 June2017 and then moved to The National Army Museum in London from 31 January – 12 February 2018.
As part of the Soldiery project, Lewis held portrait sitting with WO2 Deborah Penny, Britain's first transgender soldier to serve in the front line.
In 2018 Lewis embarked on a new project entitled Portraitist,Portraitist Exhibition BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-45004510 including portraits of former prime minister David Cameron. The portrait sitting was featured by the Guardian Newspaper.
References
External links Rory Lewis Photographer Website Rory Lewis 2012 Photography Exhibition Video BBC News Rory Lewis Exhibition Northerners Rory Lewis Exhibition Portraitist