King of the North
At the back of Wex Photo Video, found on an industrial estate at the edge of Manchester city centre is an exhibition space. I arrive here just before the opening of ‘Northerners’, a show of photographs by Rory Lewis, who is fast becoming one of Britain’s leading portraitists. Despite the launch being a few hours away, a couple of the portraits still lie on the floor, while the main man is practising his speech for the guests who will be arriving soon. Nevertheless he welcomes me warmly, and, after a day of catching up with the local press, seems happy to talk to someone who is perhaps a little more interested in photography than the celebrities who are adorning the walls around us.
The Liverpool-born, Chester-raised Rory is a confident and affable chap – this is a man who could certainly talk for Britain. I take advantage of
