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209 Women

209 Women was an artist-led project devised by photographer Hilary Wood in 2018. It celebrates 100 years of Women in Parliament by inviting woman photographers to make a portrait of sitting woman MPs. In 2018 there were 209 women Members in the House of Commons, and 207 took part in the project.

1918 was a year of many milestones for women in Parliament:

  • The Representation of the People Act enabled some women over 30 to vote for the first time in the December 1918 general election.
  • The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act allowed women over 21 to stand as MPs on equal terms as men for the first time.
  • Constance Markievicz became the first woman to be elected to the House of Commons. However, as a member of Sinn Féin, she did not take her seat.

“The women’s movement has never been about one person’s achievement: it is about all of us,” said Alison McGovern MP, former chair of the Speaker’s Advisory Committee on Works of Art. Reflecting on 209 Women, she added: “This project carries out that vision, including all kinds of women from all kinds of backgrounds. It is a subtle but very true statement of equality.”

Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of suffrage leader Emmeline Pankhurst, said: “To represent and be presented for what we are – as women, by women – is a very special thing. This is what 209 Women is all about.”

Each MP was photographed by a different woman photographer. Select an image below to see the photograph, and read the caption. Where the photographer has given us a statement about their work, this is displayed alongside the photograph.

This gallery contains 204 photographs taken during the project. These photographs were displayed in Portcullis House in 2019. As members of Sinn Féin choose not to sit in Westminster, members from the party requested to be absent from the display.

Select an image to start.

  • Diane Abbott in partial profile, wearing a turquoise jacket and black trousers. Her left hand rests on a red chair and the background is grey.
    Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington by Karen Knorr © Karen Knorr – www.karenknorr.com "I spent time on a very hot summer day in my Hackney studio setting up with Thom Bridge( my assistant) checking cameras and lighting, a bit nervous at my first meeting with the shadow home secretary whose solidarity for the Windrush generation I admired greatly . Diane Abbott arrived dressed informally for her portrait. Diane collaborated magnificently and patiently for an hour as we both strove to represent her as a visionary advocate for human rights."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Debbie Abrahams in profile, photographed through tree branches with yellow leaves, with a lake in the background. She wears a dark top and her head it tilted upwards.
    Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth by Emma Hardy © Emma Hardy     "My photographic process involves getting as close to the truth of any photographed moment as possible.  I would ideally have photographed Debbie in her constituency, in open country, perhaps showing her on a run as part of her daily routine.  However, Debbie & I settled on a brief moment in St James’s Park, Westminster, as her schedule permitted.  The chosen image, reminiscent of a film still, endeavours to capture Debbie in her thoughts, preparing for her day ahead in Parliament." 
  • Rushanara Ali wearing a red jacket, photographed against a geometric tiled wall. Her right arm crosses her waist with her hand resting on the other arm.
    Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow by Alicia Hart © Alicia Hart "Rushanara was keen to include the suffragette movement and its relationship to the east end of London. When I started my research, I was moved by the strong gazes and poses of its member’s portraits. This reminded me of the photographs taken of the artist Frida Kahlo in the 1920’s. Rushanara is an elegant woman and when she turned up in her beautiful red fitted coat my job was a very easy one. I was assisted by her Parliamentary Assistant Daniel Harris, it was a very relaxed shoot with lots of laughter. The final photograph exhibited here was taken outside the V&A museum of childhood, quite fitting for a MP who raises awareness for many children’s charities globally."
  • Lucy Allan wearing a sleeveless floral dress, standing in front of a dense green tree with small red berries. The sitter if holding her hands together in front of her body, and wears a watch and ring on her left hand.
    Lucy Allan, MP for Telford by Lua Ribeira © Parliamentary Art Collection
  • Heidi Allen seated, wearing a white jacket and top, with hands clasped in her lap. The room is painted grey with a framed picture to the right and a plant in the background.
    Heidi Allen, MP for South Cambridgeshire by Denisa Ilie © DENISA ILIE 2018 "This portrait of Heidi Allen MP was taken in her home in Elsworth, South Cambridgeshire. The “209 Women” is a wonderfully important project in raising awareness for a better representation of women throughout the professional world, and I am beyond delighted to be included in the selection of photographers working on it. Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood by Tabitha Jussa Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, has recently had her first child. This is how I found out that MP’s do not receive any maternity leave! At the time of the shoot, Cat’s son was 9 weeks old and to be able to represent her constituents and take care of her son is tough. I wanted to somehow illustrate the challenges of modern day motherhood within her portrait and by continuing my interest in the relationship between people and place, I was able to capture Cat as she went about her daily routine working and caring for her son at home." 
  • Half length portrait of Dr Rosena Allin-Khan with her arms crossed, wearing blue medical scrubs and a fine chain necklace, taken against a pale background.
    Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, MP for Tooting by Wendy Carrig © Wendy Carrig "The Shadow Minister for Sport was buzzing with energy and ideas at our makeshift studio on the Commons Terrace. We finished our photoshoot with Dr. Rosena performing a series of spontaneous star jumps, before dashing across London to continue her work as a medical doctor at St. George’s Hospital A&E."
  • Tonia Antoniazzi wearing a red outdoor jacket and blue jeans, standing among green ferns above a beach. In the misty background is a long, empty stretch of sand with the sea to the left and a hill to the right.
    Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower by Polly Braden © Polly Braden
  • Victoria Atkins in a wood panelled room, sitting on a brown leather sofa at a small round wooden table, wearing a blue jacket and skirt and white top. An open red box is on the sofa next to her and a brown handbag is at her feet. Her right arm rests on the table, a pen poised over some papers. In the background, beneath a painting of a man wearing a white wig, is a banner that reads ‘Deeds not words’, alongside two small framed pictures.
    Victoria Atkins MP, Minister for Women, The Smoking Room, Palace of Westminster, London 2018. by Jessica Fulford-Dobson © Jessica Fulford-Dobson "Victoria can often be found working in this quiet corner of the Smoking Room, once a place exclusively reserved for men. The cup of tea is a reference to the tea parties often organised by campaigners for women’s suffrage which provided private spaces away from men where their views and plans could safely be exchanged. 100 years on the ‘Deeds Not Words’ banner is included here in recognition of the landmark achievements when women voted for the first time and when the first female MP was elected to the House of Commons. The small framed black and white portrait is of the little known Margaret Wintringham MP. She was not only the first female MP for the same constituency as Victoria elected in 1921, but also the first British-born woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. The number acknowledges Victoria as the ‘428th’ female MP since women were first elected in December 1918. Above Victoria is the portrait of The Rt. Hon. Arthur Onslow who set a record length of service as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1728-1761. Here, over two and a half centuries later, he watches on as a new female Minister, the first in her 2015 intake to be promoted to the front bench works."
  • Kemi Badenoch with arms crossed, wearing a black top patterned with black and brown stripes. She stands in a wood panelled room with green and gold wallpaper. Two portrait paintings in gilt frames hang on a wall.
    Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden by Sophie Wedgwood © Sophie Wedgwood "When I first met Kemi she told me that one of her idols was Margaret Thatcher. It felt appropriate that the first woman elected to lead a major western power would be one of the first things we spoke about. We were in Parliament and Kemi suggested we take the portrait in front of a statue of Thatcher in one of the halls. We tried the photo, and sod’s law- it didn’t work. After wandering around for a while we came across the parliament smoking room. The room was covered in dust sheets, under refurbishment and now pretty much defunct because of the smoking ban. I couldn’t help thinking what it must have been like 100 years ago. No doubt pretty old school and male-dominated. The room felt like it was at a boundary or transitional point. The light was right and Kemi was standing in front of my camera, she looked purposeful, at the threshold of change."
  • Karen Bradley standing in a grassy square surrounded by trees. She wears a dark dress and green cardigan. In the background are grand white buildings.
    Rt Hon Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands © Rachel Glass
  • Tracy Brabin standing between two doors which she is holding open. She wears a dark leather dress and beige trainers. One door has an engraved glass panel which reads ‘Council’. Above the stairs to the right is a framed portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II. Patterned tiles run along either side of the bannister. Behind Brabin a room with red carpet and decorative details is partially visible.
    Tracy Brabin, MP for Batley and Spen by Rachel Louise Brown © Rachel Louise Brown
  • Full-length portrait of Roberta Blackman-Woods wearing a dark dress and pink scarf which is being blown by wind. She appears to be stepping towards the camera with both hands reaching out. Behind her is a huge wooden door with metal gates on either side and a large metal face-shaped door knocker.
    Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods, MP for City of Durham by Liz Hingley © Liz Hingley
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Kirsty Blackman wearing a dark top with floral pattern. Blackman’s face is lit in vivid blue and the background is a bright pink and purple gradient.
    Kirsty Blackman, MP for Aberdeen North by Wendy McMurdo. © Wendy McMurdo
  • Mhairi Black standing in a carved stone interior, in front of a narrow wooden alcove, with stained glass windows on the left. Black wears a dark sweater and trousers, with a hand in one trouser pocket, and the other holding a smart phone.
    Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South by Alicia Bruce Photograph © Alicia Bruce, www.aliciabruce.co.uk “Aw they’re brilliant! Like I said, it is the first time I have had my photo taken with no hassle, and no over the top-ness. So chuffed with it.” Mhairi Black MP “Sure and steadfast, Mhairi Black is the UK’s youngest MP she’s outspoken, a realist and fiercely committed to her constituency. F or me, she’s the embodiment of potential for a shifting establishment where the people’s voice will be represented directly and honestly in parliament with a foot firmly in reality.” Alicia Bruce Location: Paisley Abbey The portrait subtly references ‘The Trial of William Wallace at Westminster’ by Daniel Maclise (1870)"
  • Luciana Berger seated against a minimal wood interior, wearing a long-sleeved black dress with a green pattern, black tights and high heels.
    Luciana Berger, MP for Liverpool, Wavertree by Emma Blau © Emma Blau "I wanted this portrait to be collaborative and photograph Luciana in an environment which had a strong personal resonance for her. Luciana suggested Brent Town Hall in Wembley where she spent a lot of time in her youth. A striking modernist building designed by Clifford Strange which now houses a French Lycée, a lot of the original interiors have been retained, including the beautiful wood panelling in my portrait. Luciana’s emotive reaction to returning to the building was palpable and set the scene for this image."
  • Margaret Beckett wearing a floral-patterned jacket with an upturned black collar and a pearl necklace, photographed against a pale grey background.
    Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett, MP for Derby South by Kate Peters © Kate Peters
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Hannah Bardell submerged in water, wearing a wetsuit and smiling. The sky is blue with white/pink clouds and a there is a slim strip of green and two mounds along the horizon.
    Hannah Bardell, MP for Livingston by Sarah Lee © Sarah Lee
  • Harriett Baldwin standing in front of carved wood panelling with pattered green wallpaper above. She wears a pink jacket over a dark dress. Her left hand is held in front of her and her mouth is open as if speaking. Her right hand rests on a wood chair with leather upholstery and the portcullis symbol on its back rest. The carpet is densely patterned in a red, yellow, green, blue and white hexagonal motif.
    Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire by Suki Dhanda © Suki Dhanda "When I was photographing Harriett Baldwin in one of the House of Commons committee rooms I noticed large paintings of groups of men hung on the wall, most probably painted by male artists. The new collection of women portraits will hopefully bring a much needed freshness to the walls Westminster. We have to thank the curators of this project of asking women only photographers to produce this work. A collective empowerment upon women working with women."
  • Two black and white photos side by side. The left shows the sitter in profile in an offset image like a double exposure, with vertical and horizontal lines across it as if it has been folded. The right image shows her clasped hands with an overlaid geometric shape.
    Suella Fernandes, MP for Fareham by Alexandra Lethbridge Photograph © Alexandra Lethbridge "Being included in the 209 Women project has truly been an honour. MP Suella Fernandes and I began conversations about what the portrait could say and do and in the end Suella came to my studio. We spent just over an hour shooting. After the shoot I carried on experimenting with the images to make the final two photographs included in the exhibition. I work in an experimental way, not usually shooting portraits so it was a fantastic opportunity to combine these two things and use my collage and layering to describe a wonderful personality."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Deidre Brock with hair blown by wind, wearing black framed glasses, a dark jacket and green spotted top with silver jewellery. In the background, and below Brock, is an out-of-focus townscape.
    Deidre Brock, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith by Sophie Gerrard © Sophie Gerrard 2018
  • Lyn Brown standing in a garden, holding a small grey dog and wearing a blue sleeveless dress. In the background are four hanging bird feeders.
    Lyn Brown, MP for West Ham by Monica Takvam © Monikca Takvam wwwmonicatakvam.com
  • Fiona Bruce standing in an arched red stone doorway with carved heads on either side. She wears a black dress and shoes and a red jacket. On each side of the doorway are plant containers with small trees. Within the dark space behind her a stained glass window is visible.
    Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton by Nicola Morley © Nicola Morley www.nicolamorley.com
  • Heads and shoulders portrait of Karen Buck wearing a grey jacket, white top and earrings.
    Karen Buck, MP for Westminster North by Jennifer Pattison © Jennifer Pattison
  • Seated portrait of Dawn Butler wearing a blue evening gown with beaded details on the neckline. The dress has a sheer cape covering her shoulders and arms, with a textured fabric trim. The background is textured grey.
    Dawn Butler, MP for Brent Central by Lorna Milburn © Lorna Milburn photography "Dawn Butler was warm, humorous and genuine. A very modern MP, she arrived in skinny jeans and a t-shirt, without any airs or graces. We talked about family, and how she never planned to get into politics. The ‘209 Women’ project is a brilliant celebration of our progress towards equality, and when Dawn unveiled a dress she had been gifted, we knew we had to use it for its jubilant style. The unkind light meant we had to abandon our backdrop in the hotel room, and head up to the very public bar, working swiftly, which she handled with wit and grace!"
  • Ruth Cadbury standing beneath a black metal bridge, next to a canal. She wears a black top and trousers and a pale yellow cardigan. Behind her is a low white cabin.
    Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford and Isleworth by Frederike Helwig © Photography by Frederike Helwig "Ruth Cadbury is the MP for Brentford and Isleworth (including Hounslow, Osterley & Chiswick) since 3 years. She moved to Brentford 30 years ago and worked for years in the local council. The Brentford Lock is historic and part of Brentford’s heritage. For Ruth Cadbury it symbolises the connection to Birmingham – where she is originally from – as trading boats from the North used to come to London via this Lock."
  • Lisa Cameron standing in a minimal cream interior, wearing a black dress and cream jacket. Her right arms rests on a wooden beam, next to a large frosted window with vertical glass panels. The floor is grey tiles.
    Dr Lisa Cameron, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow by Charlotte Schreiber © Charlotte Schreiber "Creating a complete art collection of works by women photographing by women, female eyes on women shaping a whole country is quite an empowering thing and I feel honored to have been asked to be part of it. It was pouring rain when I met Lisa at her office in East Kilbride on what was supposed to be yet another hot summer day in Scotland. We managed to find a spot where I could take the picture I was aiming for all along: A strong, focused, yet calm portrait of a hard-working, successful and very lovely woman." 
  • Maria Caulfield in a domestic interior with a dark curtain to the left and behind her a window. She wears a mid-blue jacket over a white and blue striped top.
    Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewe © Susan Bell
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Yvette Cooper stood in profile, with elaborate background. The sitter's head is framed by a large black clock with rose-gold roman numberal marking and a thick distressed wooden frame. The clock is hanging on a very busy wallpaper. The wallpaper is midnight blue with red, blue, white and pink flowers. The sitter has a neutral facial expression, and is wearing an earring, a thin necklace, and a black top with blue and yellow small flowers.
    Rt Hon Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford © Hannah Starkey, courtesy Maureen Paley, London and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York / Los Angeles.
  • Julie Cooper in a dark wood panelled interior with richly patterned red wallpaper. She stands next to a window gazing out, daylight illuminating her face, wearing a green jacket.
    JULIE COOPER MP © Nana Varveropoulou
  • Thérèse Coffey standing in a garden in front of trees, wearing a black dress, teal scarf and dark framed glasses.
    Dr Thérèse Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal by Isabella Akers © Isabella Akers, ​www.isabellaakers.com
  • Ann Coffey smiling broadly, wearing a blue striped jacket and shirt, with red drop earrings and dark framed glasses. In the background is a stall of framed paintings.
    Ann Coffey, MP for Stockport by Karolina Konior © Karolina Konior "‘209 Women’ exhibition brings together politics and art to celebrate 100 years since some women gained the right to vote. For me, the project was never about politics or differences between us but bringing together 209 female MPs and 209 female photographers and creating a compelling project which should be looked up to by women who are just starting their professional careers. Simply to show all female professionals that their goals are more than just achievable."
  • Ann Clwyd seated indoors in front of a mirror which reflects the back of her head and shoulders. She wears a blue top and long necklace with large circular details. She gazes down.
    Rt Hon Ann Clwyd, MP for Cynon Valley by Kerry J Dean © KERRY J DEAN
  • Jo Churchill in a garden, reclining on a green sofa among dense plants. She wears a floral jacket, purple skirt and green wellington boots. A cup of tea rests on a small stack of books and she has a newspaper on her lap. In the background washing hangs on a line.
    Jo Churchill, MP for Bury St Edmunds by Ally Robinson © Ally Robinson "This project draws together women from the past and present and I feel very honoured to be part of it. Jo Churchill is MP for the beautiful town of Bury St Edmunds a place close to my heart. Its history is steeped in agriculture and so I wanted my image to be shot on location. The sofa was brought locally from a second hand furniture shop and was placed in a wild part of Jo’s garden. I wanted her to become part of the natural surroundings, as the countryside is so important to many of Jo’s constituents."
  • Half-length portrait of Joanna Cherry in a pink jacket with arms folded. She wears green framed glasses and silver jewellery. In the background are hills and a body of water.
    Joanna Cherry QC, MP for Edinburgh South West by Kat Dlugosz © Kat Dlugosz www.katdlugosz.com "Joanna’s portrait was taken in Pentland Hills, as a homage to a former name of her constituency, and a place she particularly likes. It took us a few attempts to make this session happen, with rain, wind, and a flat tyre standing in the way. Our perseverance was rewarded with a moment of clear skies. It was a pleasure to meet and photograph Joanna, whose political stance I admire. As an EU citizen I cannot affect any changes in Westminster, but this project allowed me to at least be part of influencing a visual representation of women in the government."
  • Jenny Chapman wearing a red dress and seated on a green sofa. Next to her a woman wearing blue holds a black and white photo of another woman in front of her own face. There are long beige curtains behind them and patterned wallpaper and carpet.
    Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington by Amak Mahmoodian © Amak Mahmoodian
  • Sarah Champion wearing a white textured top. She is lit with a green light on her left side and the background is green and purple.
    Sarah Champion, MP for Rotherham by Lottie Davies © Lottie Davies "Sarah Champion is a very impressive woman. She is direct, outspoken, passionate, driven, perceptive, wry, strong, irreverent, sexy, clever and funny. And a lot of other things; too many to try to fit into one portrait. I wanted to make a portrait that reflected her dynamism, her femininity and her determination. I feel privileged to have made a new friend in Sarah, and I am proud to be part of this ground-breaking celebration of women and our growing contribution to public and political life in the United Kingdom."
  • Head and shoulders black and white portrait of Angela Crawley gazing down, with an overlaid double exposure of a window grill pattern.
    Angela Crawley, MP for Lanark and Hamilton East © Kerry Lytwyn
  • Mary Creagh with arms folded, wearing an orange jacket, standing in a white-walled room next to an abstract contemporary sculpture.
    Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield by Tessa Bunney © Tessa Bunney "Mary Creagh chose to be photographed at The Yorkshire Sculpture Park one of two world class sculpture venues in her Wakefield Constituency, the other one being the Hepworth. We spent a very enjoyable morning exploring the landscape and especially the sculptures created by women artists around the site and the final image is taken in the chapel and features work by Chiharu Shiota: Beyond Time."
  • A two-part image. Black and white head and shoulders portrait of Stella Creasy on the right and on the left an adjoining photo of a hand with painted nails in front of a tree.
    Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow by Marysa Dowling © Marysa Dowling 2018 "My approach to photographing Stella was to create an intimate portrait in a location relevant to both Stella and myself, within our home borough of Walthamstow. As my local MP I am aware of Stella’s ongoing commitment to her community and to supporting women. These concerns echo the priorities within my photographic practice. Much of my recent work explores change and the tools we have to make that change, as well as small gestures of communication, which seemed appropriate when representing Stella for this exciting and important project."
  • Tracey Crouch standing in an allotment between vegetable beds. She wears blue jeans, a striped shirt and wellington boots. In the background are trees and a shed.
    Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford by Luisa Whitton © Photograph by Luisa Whitton
  • Half-length portrait of Judith Cummins wearing a black top and beaded necklace against a dark background.
    Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South by Carolyn Mendelsohn © Carolyn Mendelsohn "I met Judith by chance a few years ago; I sat next to her on a crowded Leeds to London train. In front of her lay a pile of official Christmas cards and she had run out of ink so I lent her my pen. We talked until the journey’s end. I was left with impression of a warm, intelligent and engaging woman. It was delightful to meet her again for 209 women. There were so many options for the portrait, but I decided to shoot it simply; a backdrop, lights but no distractions, the aim being to clearly see her remarkable strength, determination and warmth." 
  • Janet Daby wearing a black dress, jacket and sandals, standing outdoors between two contemporary metal gates with a wing-like cut-out pattern. In the background are concrete steps, trees and sunny light.
    Janet Daby, MP for Lewisham East by Gemma Day © Gemma Day "When I first heard about the project I was impressed by the scale of it, co-ordinating 209 photographers with 209 MPs seemed like such a herculean task task. I wanted Janet Daby to choose a location that meant something to her, something that would tell the story of her journey to Parliament. I was delighted when she chose Mountsfield Park, as it was here on Lewisham People’s Day that she was first inspired to get into politics when handed a leaflet on becoming a local councillor."
  • Mims Davies in the House of Commons Chamber, leaning against the central table with the despatch boxes on either side. There are green leather benches along each side of the space and carved wood wall panelling. She wears a black dress, colourful patterned scarf and red high heels.
    Mims Davies, MP for Eastleigh by Alicia Clarke Photograph © Alicia Clarke "A lot of my work is photographing within the worlds of art and entertainment, and I wanted to portray the House of Commons as a theatrical set to reference the drama and performance of the space. Mims looks very much at home here with her confident pose and direct stare at the audience. She is slightly spotlit, representing the rightful place of women as the central characters on the stage of world politics." 
  • Marsha De Cordova standing with arms crossed, wearing a red jacket, black top and trousers, in a room with worn plaster walls and tall windows. Three wall lamps are illuminated.
    Marsha De Cordova, MP for Battersea by Celine Marchbank © Celine Marchbank "I wanted to celebrate women and our achievements, especially in male dominated workplaces, such as my own (photography), but more importantly in our country’s Parliament. Marsha won her Battersea seat at the 2017 election, a seat that had an 8,000 Conservative majority and was considered unwinnable. She is Shadow Minister for Disabled People and is visually impaired and registered blind. She struggles working in a building and workplace not accessible to disabled people, her mission is to improve this “It has to get better, or no one will want to come here.”
  • Gloria De Piero standing in a car park, wearing a black jacket and top. There is a parked red car on the left and a black car on the right. In the background are red brick houses and an overcast sky.
    Gloria De Piero, MP for Ash eld by Hope Miller © Parliamentary Art Collection "I got to Nottingham after a 4 hour drive from London, met Gloria and her team whilst she was briefing a group for canvassing. Gloria asked if I’d mind driving her and a couple others to the first location. Everyone got in my car, but just as we were about to go one of her younger recruits all of a sudden had a fit in the back of my car! In the end she was fine and it was due to being over worked, but what a start to meeting Gloria and then having to take her pictures!"
  • Thangam Debbonaire standing outside on a balcony or bridge, wearing a white shirt, grey trousers and black-framed glasses. Behind and below her is a harbour with small boats and a city scape of historical and modern buildings. The sky is blue with small clouds.
    Thangam Debbonaire, MP for Bristol West by Julia Biro © Julia Biro "I’m extremely honoured and excited to be one of the 209 women taking part in such an empowering project, and to be part of such an important rebalancing of the representation of women in Parliament’s art collection. I met Thangam Debbonaire for an hour- long shoot in Bristol’s harbourside, the site of her first photoshoot upon becoming an MP. The final choice of image was taken from the balcony at the top of the M Shed Museum, overlooking a fantastic panorama of Bristol’s harbourside, reflecting Thangam’s heartfelt commitment and passion for her constituency, Bristol West."
  • Caroline Dinenage standing in Central Lobby in the Palace of Westminster. She wears a black dress and behind her is a large elaborately carved stone archway leading to a corridor. There are statues of kings on either side of the arch and two dark leather seats. The floor is patterned tiles.
    Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport by Sonal Kantaria © Sonal Kantaria – www.sonalkantaria.com
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Anneliese Dodds gazing up. The quality of the photograph is a grainy, pale black and white that has the look of an historical image.
    Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East by Claire Francis © Claire Francis "Anneliese and I both arrived at Oxford Botanic gardens by bike and found an hour of calm in our chaotic lives to walk, chat warmly and pause for the occasional photograph. I love to be fully involved in the physical process of making photographs. At the moment I am working with with a multi-layered process which was discovered in the 19 th century, called Gum Bichromate. The final image is a result of 8 layers of watercolour paint and chemistry made by pushing light through a full sized contact negative onto the paper. My portrait of Anneliese is close and statuesque; it was taken with the process in mind as I wanted the inherent imperfections to add to the photographs appeal and for the hand-worked nature to draw in the viewer."
  • Two-thirds profile portrait of Michelle Donelan standing on a foliage-lined path with her hands resting on a metal railing. She wears a blue and black tartan jacket and skirt. In the foreground tree leaves frame the top edge of the photograph.
    Michelle Donelan, MP for Chippenham by Rosemary Despres © Photograph by Rosemary Després. rosemarydespres.com "What I feel makes the exhibition so important is that not only does it appeal to lovers of the arts and politics, but to anyone who considers themselves a feminist. The photographic approach of the project is diverse; I have never previously exhibited alongside so many female photographers. The project champions women from everywhere – it makes such a powerful statement. For my shoot, I took MP Michelle Donelan to a park in her local constituency; I wanted to make the photo look really natural, as if she had just stopped on a walk to look onto the beautiful Chippenham river."
  • Jackie Doyle-Price, MP for Thurrock by Lauren Forster © Lauren Forster, 2018 "At a time of political dispute and uncertainty for our country’s future. 209 Women is giving female photographers a platform to celebrate 100 years since women were given the right to vote. Collectively, the portraits celebrate a unique and diverse approach that contemporary female photographers employ in their work. Presenting the images in such a wide-ranging public exhibition is allowing people to engage with politics, celebrate equality and of course, photography. Being part of such a huge initiative is incredible and extremely humbling. It was pouring with rain on the day of our shoot and this portrait of Jackie was taken in a quiet room in the Houses of Parliament. I wanted to create a portrait that showed her as a confident women in a moment of quiet contemplation."
    Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire by Jane Hilton © Jane Hilton "This photograph was taken in Nadine’s office that overlooks Westminster and Parliament Square. “Over one hundred years ago, a male MP may have been stood at this very window watching the suffragettes chaining themselves to the railings, gathering in the courtyard below, smoking his cigar and laughing….. And now, a woman is stood on his desk in her high heels. It makes me feel very good about this photograph.” Nadine Dorries."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Jackie Doyle-Price wearing a zipped up black jacket with a white shirt collar showing underneath. The background is a flat, deep black.
    Jackie Doyle-Price, MP for Thurrock by Lauren Forster © Lauren Forster, 2018 "At a time of political dispute and uncertainty for our country’s future. 209 Women is giving female photographers a platform to celebrate 100 years since women were given the right to vote. Collectively, the portraits celebrate a unique and diverse approach that contemporary female photographers employ in their work. Presenting the images in such a wide-ranging public exhibition is allowing people to engage with politics, celebrate equality and of course, photography. Being part of such a huge initiative is incredible and extremely humbling. It was pouring with rain on the day of our shoot and this portrait of Jackie was taken in a quiet room in the Houses of Parliament. I wanted to create a portrait that showed her as a confident women in a moment of quiet contemplation."
  • Black and white portrait of Rosie Duffield wearing a loose-fitting white shirt. She gazes to the right of the photograph, which has a dark background.
    Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury by Alice Zoo Photograph © Alice Zoo
  • Seated portrait of Maria Eagle with her hands in the pockets of a brown jacket. She wears blue jeans and a blue and yellow scarf. Behind her is a flat grassy area and a metal industrial structure. In the distance is a body of water and industrial buildings.
    Maria Eagle, MP for Garston and Halewood by Olivia Harris © Olivia Harris
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Angela Eagle wearing a dark blue jacket and purple top, standing in front of green foliage.
    Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey by Alejandra Carles-Tolra Photograph © Alejandra Carles-Tolra "I am thrilled to be part of this historic opportunity to celebrate women’s votes and to do so in such a significant year of change for women and equality. MP Angela Eagle marked history when she became the first female MP to come out in office. I wanted to portray her as a confident woman who is not afraid to challenge the norm." 
  • Julie Elliott seated in a room with red upholstered chairs and wooden tables. She wears a white jacket and dark trousers. Two men sit in the corner of the room, one in a white tracksuit top, the other in a check shirt. On the table in front of them is a beer can and a white plastic bag. On the wall behind Elliott are 7 framed photos showing city river and port views.
    Julie Elliott MP for Sunderland Central by Mary Turner © Mary Turner
  • Louise Ellman Louise Ellman standing outside a contemporary building with a glass and stone ramped path leading up to it. She wears a dark green dress and dark framed glasses.
    Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool, Riverside by Carlotta Cardana © Carlotta Cardana
  • Marion Fellows seated on a brown leather sofa with bunches of pale flowers on either side of her. She wears a short sleeved floral top with a necklace of chunky gold beads, dark blue trousers and glasses.
    Marion Fellows, MP for Motherwell and Wishaw by Flannery O’kafka © Flannery O’kafka "Working with 35mm snapshot photography and within the medium of the family album, it seemed appropriate to make a portrait in Marion’s family home. I was welcomed into a house filled with flowers as her husband George had passed away two weeks earlier. We talked about babies and knitting, George’s wicked sense of humour, finding out who we are outside of marriage and motherhood, and how her parents’ generation dealt with death as a part of life. Marion went out of her way to tell me how lovely everyone is in Parliament, and after meeting her I might believe it."
  • Colleen Fletcher wearing a black jacket with a white top and scarf, leaning on a metal railing that runs along a sloped brick path. Behind her is a tower block and a red brick building.
    Colleen Fletcher, MP for Coventry North East by Alison Baskerville © Alison Baskerville "We chose to take Colleen’s portrait here as Colleen has a deep commitment to the city she lives in. Not wanting to choose a standard parliamentary background and a place where people in the city convene is something Colleen wanted to show in this image. Colleen lives in the same home she moved into when she first married her husband I felt Colleen’s story was a great example of staying connected to your roots. Colleen is a great role model for staying grounded and not being overly influenced by power whilst holding down a challenging role as a woman.”
  • Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford © Teresa Eng
    Rt Hon Caroline Flint, MP for Don Valley by Jenny Lewis © Jenny Lewis
  • Vicky Ford seated at a slim wooden table wearing a grey jacket, black and white spotted dress, and blue high heels. Two identical tables are tiered behind her. Around her are nine dark leather upholstered chairs each with a gold portcullis symbol on its backrest.
    Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford © Teresa Eng
  • Yvonne Fovargue seated with her legs tucked under her, on a white metal-framed bed in a domestic bedroom with a mirrored wardrobe along one wall. She wears a black dress with metalic floral pattern, and a red and white striped scarf.
    Yvonne Fovargue, MP for Makerfield © Photograph by Michelle Sank
  • Vicky Foxcroft seated with her legs tucked under her, on a large stone in a grassy area surrounded by trees. She wears a black top with cropped black trousers.
    Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham Deptford by Jocelyn Allen © Jocelyn Allen "My previous encounters with local MPs in the past had just involved being sat in assemblies as a child, listening to pre-selected questions from pre-selected students. After sitting down to chat at her office, she quickly suggested that we walk around her constituency instead and so off we went talking about life and the project. We found ourselves by the Stone Circle in Hilly Field Park and agreed it would be a great location for our shoot and second meeting. During the shoot many of her constituents stopped to chat with her and they seemed delighted to bump into her."
  • Lucy Frazer wearing a blue sleeveless dress with bow detail. The background is a townscape viewed from above. At the top of the image is a horizontal strip of photograph showing a detail of the exterior stonework of the Palace of Westminster.
    Lucy Frazer, MP for South East Cambridgeshire by Wei Wang ©WangWei
  • Gill Furniss wearing a white dress, glasses, necklace and bracket, standing in a room with white walls and a wooden floor. Behind her are 12 people, including women, men, a child, baby and teenager, who appear paused in mid-motion.
    Gill Furniss, MP for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough by Marta Soul © Marta Soul "I was trying to think about what Gill and I might have in common, and I came across with the idea of people as the link between ourselves. So I included friends, relatives and a people close to Gill and myself. The photo was taken during one of the warmest days in October and the burglar alarm was buzzing during the whole session. One child started to feel dizzy, another one was naughty, and everyone stressed. People was feeling tired and I think that it was a good chance for capturing their disturbed expressions. But Gill acted like a professional model and we have lots of fun."
  • Ruth George wearing a red dress with white spots, standing in a grassy area. In the background is a view of fields, hills and a valley.
    Ruth George, MP for High Peak by Kate Stanworth © Kate Stanworth
  • Nusrat Ghani seated sideways on a wooden chair, wearing a white dress with a folded gold and pink floral patterned shawl on one shoulder and across her body. The background is dark red.
    NUSRAT GHANI, MP FOR WEALDEN BY CLAUDIA AGATI © Claudia Agati
  • Half-length black and white portrait of Patricia Gibson in profile. She wears a dark jacket and black framed glasses.
    Patricia Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arranby Eileen Perrier © Eileen Perrier "Patricia Gibson was photographed with a large format camera and headrest device emulating how sitters would have been photographed in early Victorian style photographs. The headrest allows the sitter to stay still for longer exposed images. This way of working is an ongoing exploration which Perrier has been doing within her practice since her commission in a public space with the Whitechapel Gallery in 2008."
  • A digital collage of around 40 square photographs of Kaur Gill. The composite image includes close-ups of her hands and two children. In some parts of the image Gill wears a dark blue dress and in others a bright pink sari.
    Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham, Edgbaston by Clare Hewitt © Clare Hewitt "Being involved in 209 Women is an opportunity to be part of visualising and celebrating the strength, courage and diversity of female politicians and artists within the UK, and to bring them together in the solidarity of their achievements. When creating this portrait, my intention was to represent the many aspects of Preet Kaur Gill’s identity, including her womanhood, her faith, as the only female Sikh MP, her role as a professional, and the responsibility she holds as a mother to her two daughters."
  • Full length portrait of Cheryl Gillan standing in a grassy area feeding a goat with a sprig of leaves. Gillian wears a bright pink waterproof jacket, a pink top and black trousers. In the background are trees and a blue sky.
    Rt Hon Dame Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham by Suzanne Plunkett © Photograph by Suzanne Plunkett "When I shoot portraits, my style is to show people in their natural environment. It was a challenge finding time in Gillan’s schedule to accommodate this. Eventually we narrowed it down to a one hour window on the day she spends each week in her constituency when she agreed to meet us in a typically rural location. With the minutes ticking by and cloudy and windy conditions hampering the shoot, it wasn’t easy to get Gillan to feel totally comfortable in front of the camera. Upon discovering that she has a strong love of animals and keeps chickens at home, we seized an unexpected opportunity to interact with some local beasts. When L.B. the goat showed his playful side, Gillan let down her guard, the sun peeked through the clouds and her portrait came to life."
  • Full length portrait of Mary Glindon wearing a grey jacket and black skirt. The background is dark and the light levels low.
    Mary Glyndon MP by Poulomi Basu © Poulomi Basu "Portrait of Mary Glyndon MP photographed inside the Palace of Westminster."
  • Helen Goodman seated in a leather upholstered chair wearing a dark blue dress. There is red patterned wallpaper behind her and the corner of a gilt frame.
    Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland by Eleonora Agostini © Eleonora Agostini "Labour MP Helen Goodman and I spent over three hours together, walking around under the rain before moving indoors for the chosen photograph. She gave me a lot of time to take her portrait and experiment with different things while keeping an adventurous spirit under the rain. She was very trustful in my way of working, very interested in the process of film photography and we had an interesting conversation about both the difficulties and successes we experience in both our career choices as artist and politician."
  • Helen Grant seated in a grand room, wearing a sleeveless dark blue gown with spot details. On the right is a sculpture of a figure made of wicker, with a sash which reads ‘VOTES FOR WOMEN’. The room has long gold curtains, a painting in a gilt frame and a lamp on a side table. There are white and purple flowers in the foreground.
    Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and The Weald by Emma Freeman © Emma Freeman Portraits "This was personal journey for myself, then I came to learn for Helen too. A celebration of how Helen came to be an MP, and the support she found as a young solicitor. One senses her powerful resolve, and celebrates being a woman of beauty too; to walk in tandem in today’s world is not always easy. She sits at ease at Leeds Castle, Kent. This was also a personal journey. My cousin, Catherine Courtauld, a Suffragist, was an illustrator for the Suffragettes. As a mother of four strong feminists, this was an apt opportunity to discuss on a personal level too." 
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Kate Green wearing a white top, grey jacket and blue beaded necklace. The background is pale blue with a pale green column to the right.
    Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston by Elainea Emmott © Photography by Elainea Emmott "Kate Green was photographed in her favourite place, the historic Stretford Town Hall, where she runs her constituency office as the MP for Stretford and Urmston. In this wonderful Victorian building a short walk from the Trams in the heart of Stretford, we at first photographed in front of the Labour MP Plaque above the stairwell with Kate standing on the table. As the clouds parted for a few minutes the light shone proudly down as she walked through the building and another image was captured showing not only her determination but also her pride of being a Labour MP and a campaigner for Women’s rights and suffrage. As the Women’s March London Photographer and many protest organisations, I was proud to photograph Kate Green and be part of this amazing project celebrating Women." 
  • Justine Greening standing in a church, wearing a pale blue top, dark trousers and trainers, holding a red shoulder bag in front of her legs. There are rows of wooden chairs behind her, a brick archway, stained glass windows and stone columns.
    Rt Hon Justine Greening, MP for Putney by Madeleine Waller © Madeleine Waller "I asked Justine where she would like to be photographed, somewhere with some meaning to her. She chose St Mary’s Church in Putney because it was the home of the famous Putney Debates. Churches can be very difficult for portraits because of the variation of light. As we didn’t have very much time I chose to photograph Justine by the window using natural light. I am really pleased to participate in this project and feel this is a great opportunity to celebrate women in parliament and photography while highlighting the under representation of women."
  • Black and white portrait of Lilian Greenwood in half-profile, wearing a pale collarless shirt. The background is of a reflected cloudy sky, with faint concentric circles like rippling water. In the top left corner of the photograph is the tip of a tower, upside down.
    Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South by Phoebe Kiely. © Parliamentary Art Collection
  • Margaret Greenwood standing in a residential street of mid-20th century terraced houses, wearing a dark jacket and a red patterned scarf. Behind her are the blurred figures of four children on bikes and push scooters. The sky is dusky and a single street light is on.
    Margaret Greenwood, MP for Wirral West by Stephanie Wynne ©Stephanie Wynne "My photography practise mainly deals with the built environment, so I was pleased when Margaret Greenwood suggested I photograph her on the Woodchurch Estate in her constituency. The estate, begun in 1946, is a prime example of the post-war socialist ethos of providing good homes, with open space for families. On this September evening, a group of children playing nearby stopped to chat; they recognised Margaret as a regular visitor to their area. They then ran behind her as I photographed, just before being called home to bed."
  • Black and white portrait of Nia Griffith wearing a patterned dress, against a plain grey background.
    Nia Griffith, London, 2018 © Asa Johannesson "This photograph was taken during Nia Griffith’s lunch break in the Victoria Tower Gardens near the Parliament. We met by the Statue of Emmeline Pankhurst and so this is where the camera and backdrop were set up. Shooting with an analogue large format camera requires a slow and meticulous process and usually consists of a shoot lasting several hours. This shoot was executed in 45 minutes and 10 sheets of film were exposed. This image was selected as the strongest out of the 10 shots. I feel that this is a powerful portrait that at the same time makes present Nia’s strength and warmth. Poignantly, Nia’s watch reveals that this image was one of the last ones of the shoot: she returned to the parliament at 1.45pm."
  • Black and white portrait of Louise Haigh seated outdoors on a metal chair among other chairs and tables at which a group of 5 people sit. Haigh wears a casual jacket, floral top and black trousers. In the background are parked cars and trees.
    Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield, Heeley by Carla Borel © Carla Borel
  • Kirstene Hair standing on a beach with her hands in the pockets of a dark blue coat. She wears a salmon pink scarf. The tide is out and there are pools of water around her. In the background are sand dunes and trees.
    Kirstene Hair, MP for Angus by Helen McGhie © Helen McGhie "Having the opportunity to photograph Kirstene has been a really great experience. I was excited to meet her, particularly as she is a member of the Women and Equalities Committee and visualising equality is something I am interested in as part of my practice. We met one evening in September at Lunan Bay, a beautiful beach in Angus, Scotland. Here we conversed about the enigmatic landscape that surrounded us, and how the sea felt like a metaphor that connected her constituency with the rest of the UK."
  • Black and white portrait of Emma Hardy smiling broadly, standing outside a cafe with a dark tiled exterior and check curtains along the lower part of the windows. Hardy holds a mug and is wearing a black jacket and white top.
    Emma Hardy, MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle by Amelia Allen© Amelia Allen
  • Black and white portrait of Harriet Harman taken through glass so the reflections from outside form patterns across the photo. Harman wears a black top and a beaded necklace.
    Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC, MP for Camberwell and Peckham by Harriet Logan © Harriet Logan "My good friend Margot spent 10 years living with a man who was extraordinarily violent. He made her a prisoner in her own home. He took her passport and all access she might have to money. And then, when she tried to leave him, he firebombed her home with the intent of killing her. Today, Margot still lives in fear of him finding her again. She won’t go on the electoral role or use social media. She has effectively made herself invisible, paying the price for a crime he committed. I wanted to photograph Harriet Harman because of the work she has done around Domestic Violence and my idea was to make an image which suggested the sense of being trapped like Margot was. Harriet – ‘Mother of the House’ and the longest serving female MP ever was an honour to meet and it was a privilege to be a part of 209 women."
  • Carolyn Harris seated on a cream leather sofa with red cushions wearing a multi-coloured, multi-patterned dress with blue sandals and red-framed glasses. There are drawn brown venetian blinds behind her and various decorative hangings. One that is heart-shaped reads ‘Home sweet home’. The door is slightly ajar and a garden chair and fence are partially visible outside.
    Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East by Andrea Liggins © Portrait by Andrea Liggins "I chose several venues, but when I walked into Carolyn’s sunroom I immediately knew that it was the perfect location, homely and welcoming, perfect for Carolyn the private person, not the public persona. The selection panel chose the first photograph I took, with all the clutter before I removed it. At first I was disappointed but now I believe it shows the ordinary home life of this extraordinary woman. After the shoot, Carolyn made sandwiches for children who had little to eat because it was school holidays. This is the person she is, and I’m proud to have photographed her." 
  • Rebecca Harris seated on a low exterior stone wall next to a large grey and brown dog. Harris wears a black dress and boots. In the background is the ruined remains of a very old stone building, hills and blue sky.
    Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point by Reme Campos © Reme Campos
  • Portrait of Trudy Harrison, her face spotlit against a dark background. Around the edges of the photo is a slim frame of grainy textures and strips of dark grey, dark pink, pale yellow and blue.
    Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland Photograph © Aletheia Casey "I photographed Judy Harrison with a large format camera, and a polaroid back. Having the polaroid back meant that I could show her the images as we worked, so that the process was collaborative. Judy was generous with her time, and we spent around two hours chatting and photographing on the lawns near Parliament."
  • Full-length portrait of Helen Hayes wearing a red suit, white top and black shoes, standing in a large open-air structure with green columns and white beams. In the background are red brick buildings. There is a sculpture of a pair of cherries atop one of the buildings behind the sitter.
    Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood by Louise Haywood Schiefer © Louise Haywood-Schiefer "As an MP who tirelessly campaigns on social issues, it felt important to take a portrait of Helen in the heart of her constituency. She suggested the bustling market street of Electric Avenue in Brixton, where I discovered local artist Lucy Casson’s Foxes and Cherries sculpture on top of a market hall. Not only did I adore the aesthetic of these bright and bold cherries, I felt they summed up the spirit of the neighbourhood- it’s creativity and lively markets. For me ‘209 Women’ encourages sisterhood and promotes the visibility of women in two male dominated fields- politics and photography."
  • Sue Hayman leaning on a metal fence with arms folded, wearing a dark jacket and pale grey polo neck jumper and hoop earrings. In the background is a black corrugated buildings, grass and a hill.
    Sue Hayman, MP for Workington by Kate Kirkwood © Kate Kirkwood, c/o Parliamentary Art Collection "This photograph shows Sue Hayman alongside a tin shed on a farm in the western Lake District. It was an honour for me to spend a couple of hours working together with an elected woman MP: two women representing fields traditionally dominated by men. I’d planned to photograph Sue in downtown Workington, the heart of her constituency, but the weather made that challenging, so we explored options around her rural home, perhaps just as an appropriate setting for our Shadow Environment Secretary. Sue was wonderful; happy to improvise and try my suggestions, including a pow-wow with cows and cuddles with hens, all while getting rather damp. I liked the final framing of this portrait as the dark tones of the unpretentious shed complement her colouring and clothing, with a very green Cumbrian field and the western fells just visible in the background."
  • Black and white portrait of Lady Hermon wearing a dress and high heels, sitting on a metal bench on a shore, looking away from the camera out to sea.
    Lady Hermon, MP for North Down by Elisabeth Scheder-Bieschin © @elisabethschederbieschin "I very much enjoyed the shoot with Lady Hermon. She is a fantastically warm, intelligent woman with a great sense of humour. We met in in her home town of Donaghadee, part of her constituency North Downs, Northern Ireland. I used my bulky old medium format camera and printed and toned the final print myself. I was happy to find this frame where Lady Hermon faces the sea, you can’t see her face but you can see what a beautiful elegant Lady she is from her silhouette." 
  • Meg Hillier wearing a red jacket and top with a black necklace, standing at a bus stop. A red double decker bus is in the background with its doors open. The sky is dark and car and street lights are on.
    Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch by Rut Blees Luxemburg © Rut Blees Luxemburg
  • Wera Hobhouse wearing a red jacket and black dress, with arms folded, in an interior with a wooden floor and deep skirting, blue walls and gilt-framed paintings.
    Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath by Caz Holbrook © Caz Holbrook "I’m very interested in politics and try and keep abreast of what is going on in the world where possible. I was delighted with my pairing with Wera Hobhouse Liberal Democrat MP for Bath as she’s a true champion for women’s rights and her other political views echo my own in so many ways. She’s an incredibly strong and passionate lady and it was a pleasure to to spend a while putting the world to rights with her. After researching Wera I found that she had strong connections to the art world and her and her husband used to have their own art gallery. I chose to photograph her in the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. I loved the rich colours in the room of the upper gallery and thought that using this as a setting would be a nod to her arty background." 
  • Black and white portrait of Margaret Hodge smiling broadly, wearing a dark top and trousers and a pale jacket, leaning against a waist-high touch screen on a metal stand. Superimposed on the photo is the image of Big Ben and part of the Palace of Westminster.
    Rt Hon Dame Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking by Monika Drzewicz © Monika Drzewicz
  • Sharon Hodgson smiling broadly, wearing a black dress, red jacket with a brooch on the lapel, standing in a school canteen where pupils in black blazers are queuing with trays.
    Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West by Jo Metson Scott © Jo Metson Scott
  • Kate Hoey seated in the driver’s seat of a maroon Mini car, with one arm resting on the open window and the other hand on the steering wheel. She wears a yellow top and dark blue jacket.
    Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall by Susannah Ireland © Susannah Ireland "This portrait of Kate Hoey was taken near her home in London. Kate owns a beautiful classic British Mini car and I thought a portrait of her behind the wheel would reflect part of her personality in an engaging way. I think the 209 Women exhibition is extremely important in raising awareness in women’s fight for equality in all fields of life; a struggle that is far from over."
  • Head and shoulders profile portait of Kate Hollern wearing a light green top and black jacket. There is a golden lens flare across the centre of the photograph.
    Kate Hollern, MP for Blackburn by Sophie Gladstone © Sophie Gladstone
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Rupa Huq wearing a white top and gold earrings, with a pale grey background and overall muted tones.
    Rupa Huq MP for Ealing Central and Acton photographed at Portcullis House 28th August 2018 © Lisa Barnard
  • Black and white portrait of Margot James seated at a round table with an open folder of paper and a mobile phone on top. She wears a grey jacket, dark top, glasses and a long necklace. The room has a blank pinboard, an armchair and framed pictures.
    Margot James, MP for Stourbridge by Minna Kantonen © Minna Kantonen
  • Half-length portrait of Christine Jardine wearing a dark jacket, blue white and red patterned scarf, against a dark background. In the top left corner is a lens flare.
    Christine Jardine, MP for Edinburgh West by Laura El-Tantawy © LAURA EL-TANTAWY 2019 "Christine Jardine, a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West is photographed in a portrait at the Palace of Westminster in London, UK on Wednesday, October 10, 2018."
  • Andrea Jenkyns wearing a maroon jacket and skirt and black shoes, standing on a landing with flights of stairs up and down. The walls are painted maroon and white, there are large windows, decorative bannisters and a patterned carpet.
    Andrea Jenkyns, MP for Morley and Outwood by Freya Najade © Freya Najade
  • A narrow, wide-format portrait of Layla Moran. The photograph is divided into thirds with the blue-coloured centre section showing Moran reflected in a white dressing table mirror. On each side are partial views of Moran’s hair and shoulders against a pale background.
    Diana Johnson, MP for Kingston upon Hull North by Sasha Hitchcock © Sasha Hitchcock
  • Caroline Johnson wearing blue medical scrubs with a red stethoscope around her neck, standing in the House of Commons Chamber. Green leather benches run along each side and the walls are wood panelled.
    Dr Caroline Johnson, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham by Yushi Li. © Yushi Li
  • Helen Jones wearing a pale blue shirt with a pearl necklace, looking out through a window, with an arm resting on a wooden window ledge.
    Helen Jones, MP for Warrington North by Jane MacNeil © Jane MacNeil "I arrived in Warrington a couple of hours earlier to do a reccy. By the time we were due to do the shoot, the weather had taken a turn for the worse, so there was little else we could do but retreat indoors to the boardroom. Best laid plans… but worked out well, having restrictions is my favourite way to work. I used the window as a softbox and a lucky coincidence that the blue of Helen’s blouse complimented the brown hues of the wall."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Sarah Jones wearing a black top with triangle cut out pattern on the neckline, photographed against a pale, out-of-focus background.
    Sarah Jones, MP for Croydon Central by Natasha Caruana © Parliamentary Art Collection
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Elan Jones wearing a turquoise sweater over a black shirt. In the background is a vertical stone column and a residential street of red brick houses.
    Susan Elan Jones, MP for Clwyd South by Susie Parr © Susie Parr
  • Gillian Keegan standing next to a decorative metal gate, between two brick walls with indented parapets, and plant beds at their base. Keegan wears a red dress and black shoes. Through the gate are grand historical buildings and a garden.
    Gillian Keegan, MP for Chichester by Mandy Williams © Photographer Mandy Williams "I usually work on landscape and environmental projects so was pleased to meet with Gillian Keegan MP who is also passionate about conservation and the natural environment. We met at Chichester Cathedral and over the course of an enjoyable hour long shoot also discussed Brexit and the circumstances that had formed our different political views. The selected photograph was taken in nearby Bishop’s Palace Gardens with Chichester Cathedral in the background. I am delighted to be a part of this inspiring project."
  • Black and white portrait of Barbara Keeley standing on a canal tow path, wearing a pale jacket and black trousers. In the background is a foot bridge over the canal, a boat and trees.
    Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles South by Vanessa Short © Vanessa Short "The image of Barbara Keeley was created along side The Bridgewater canal. The canal lays claim to the first cut canal in the world independent of a river and became the model for those that followed. It functioned to carry coal directly from the mines in Worsley to Manchester extending later to Runcorn to forge a link with the Port of Liverpool. Salford is steeped in industrial history, and I wanted to show this in the image. The canal itself is orange due to the iron ore but this didn’t show in my gravure print. Although not originally from Salford I grew up in the city from a young age and when given the opportunity to be part of such an amazing project Salford seemed the obvious location. I’m not a professional photographer but use photograph when documenting social history stories using an old printing technique were the image is exposed onto a printing plate with UV light and then inked up and hand run through a printing press."
  • Liz Kendall wearing a blue V neck top, photographed against a brick background.
    Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West by Laura Hynd © Laura Hynd
  • Seema Kennedy standing on a low plinth in a corridor in the Palace of Westminster with 8 stone statues of men along either side. Kennedy’s back in partially turned to the camera and she looks over her shoulder. She wears a green tartan dress and a matching jacket hangs from one hand, the other hand on her hip. The corridor has a high arched doorway, carved stone pillars and is lined with paintings. Chandeliers hang along the centre and the floor is tiled.
    Seema Kennedy, MP for South Ribble Julia Fullerton-Batten © Julia Fullerton-Batten "I chose to photograph Seema Kennedy MP in St Stephen’s Hall in the Houses of Parliament, which is gloriously full of art and sculptures. It is lined with statues of famous male parliamentarians mounted on pedestals facing one another on either side of the Hall. I posed Seema standing demurely elevated on a pedestal of her own and eye-balling the rows of serious looking statues. She wears a Vivienne Westwood suit which blends in well with her surroundings. She flamboyantly holds her jacket aloft as if to say to the rows of silent males , ‘Here I am, a woman MP in your midst’. The day of the shoot was exciting to say the least. Because the security at the Houses of Parliament is so high, all 10 trolley loads of our photographic gear had to be x-rayed, which took over an hour to complete. St Stephen’s Hall turned out to be a great location to photograph Seema, a very gracious and committed politician, a true representative of the 209 women. Seema has been the MP for South Ribble in Lancashire since 2015. She is Private Secretary to Prime Minister Theresa May and the first MP of Iranian descent to sit in the House. In 2016, Seema collaborated with the Labour MP Jo Cox to establish a commission to tackle loneliness. Tragically, Jo Cox was murdered just before the 2016 referendum. Now Seema carries on the project with another Labour MP and close friend of Jo Cox’s, Rachel Reeves . Styled by Ruth Higginbotham, Make up by Cat Legg"
  • Eleanor Laing standing in a grand corridor of high stone archways with a stone tile floor. She wears a black dress, tights and high heels with a brooch and necklace. Above her is a small roof window and along the corridor electric lights. Leather upholstered benches run either side of the corridor.
    Rt Hon Dame Eleanor Laing, MP for Epping Forest by Nancy Honey © Nancy Honey nancyhoney.com "My personal photographic projects are all about women’s lives from an autobiographical standpoint as I move through life. Plans for how to photograph Eleanor for this project were extremely flexible as my personal vision involves being collaborative with my subjects. Eleanor decided where she would like me to make her portrait. I found it fascinating to observe the protocol , behavior and manners at Parliament. What was important to me was to mark 100 years of women’s suffrage by replacing portraits of men that dominate influential places with those of women."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Lesley Laird wearing a red top and smiling at the camera. Light from a window is cast on the wall behind her.
    Lesley Laird, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath by Heidi Jones © Photography by Heidi Jones
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Pauline Latham wearing a shirt with a colourful repeated pattern of figures carrying bags, who are walking and striking poses. The background is dark blue.
    Pauline Latham, MP for Mid Derbyshire by Maryam Wahid © Maryam Wahid "This portrait of Pauline Latham OBE MP, was taken in her modern home in Mid- Derbyshire. Pauline is an extraordinarily hard-working, inspiring and ambitious woman. Meeting her was an insightful experience; one that will remain with me for a long time to come."
  • Andrea Leadsom smiling, standing with arms folded, wearing a long pink jacket with metal details on the neckline and trim, in front of a stone building.
    Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire © Alison Jackson
  • Karen Lee seated in a room with red curtains and red flowers in the extreme foreground which are out of focus. She is wearing a black and white plaid shirt.
    Karen Lee, MP for Lincoln by Rosie Barnes © Portrait by Rosie Barnes "Karen and I initially made some portraits in Lincoln Hospital, where she spent a large part of her working life as a nurse and where she was still doing a few shifts until a few months ago when she became Shadow Minister for Fire. But Karen told me the place that she really felt most at home was in Lincoln Labour Club, a place she’s been coming to for 25 years. “I started as an ordinary member in this building and now that I am the Labour MP, my office is here. It’s in need of a lick of paint, but it is a warm and welcoming place, steeped in Labour tradition. We come here for our party meetings, before we go out campaigning, before and after election counts and socially too. This place is in my heart and in my soul”. I’d asked Karen, just before taking this image, how it had felt when she won the seat last year. I wanted to show her as the incredibly strong woman she is, amidst the very fabric of the place she calls her second home."
  • Emma Lewell-Buck in front of a mural showing a woman in a plaid shawl, a man in a brown overcoat and hat, and behind them several figures in a boat on rails on a ramp. Lewell-Buck holds 3 sunflowers and wears a red cardigan over a floral top.
    Emma Lewell-Buck, MP for South Shields by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen © ©Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen "Emma Lewell-Buck, South Shields’ first female MP, was born in her constituency and raised in the area. We set her portrait against a mural of local industries, fishing being a symbol for her Bill to measure household Food Insecurity and her commitment to end hunger in the UK. In this capacity, she is a lifeboat, which in the mural also references her direct descendancy from local hero William Wouldhave, the inventor of the lifeboat. I asked her to bring along something personal to describe herself with and she brought the sunflowers – her sunny personality was confirmed by her husband Simon."
  • Emma Little Pengelly wearing a blue dress with a ribbon belt, standing in a tree-lined field with a blue sky.
    Emma Little Pengelly, MP for Belfast South by Jan McCullough © Jan McCullough
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Rebecca Long Bailey wearing a black tailored jacket, necklace and earrings against a dark red background.
    Rebecca Long Bailey, MP for Salford and Eccles by Felicity McCabe © Felicitymccabe.com
  • Julia Lopez seated on a bus or tram with blue seats and orange metal work. Lopez wears a blue jacket and white shirt and looks out of the window.
    Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster by Joanne Banks © Jo Banks "Julia Lopez and I revisited a momentous day, when six years ago, on the 277 bus, Julia resolved for the first time to stand for elected office after reflecting on a huge row she’d seen break out between councillors during which death threats were issued. “That moment on the bus, I realised that I was depending on other people to step up and take a stand for the things I valued… At moments when I feel overwhelmed by the political challenges ahead or trepidatious about certain aspects of being an MP, I often return my mind to the 277 bus.”
  • Caroline Lucas wearing a green dress, standing in the House of Commons Chamber in front of green leather benches which are superimposed with a forest of trees growing from them. The floor of the Chamber looks like grass. The walls are wood panelled and the despatch boxes and Speaker’s chair are visible in the background.
    Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion by Carol Sharp © Carol Sharp "Although plant portraiture is more my usual genre, I was very pleased to be part of 209 women. Caroline Lucas is one of the most hardworking and genuine MPs and as the only Green MP was the obvious choice for me. The image tells of her vision of a green parliament. I used the trees to represent not only the environment, but their wisdom and strength, and as recent science tells us their co-operation, working together and as part of the larger ecosystem."
  • Holly Lynch, pregnant, wearing a floral pattern blue dress with a dark jacket and red-framed glasses. Her arms are crossed. In the background are low rocks, bushes and a TV or telephone tower.
    Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax by Yan Wang Preston. © Yan Wang Preston, 2018
  • Rachel Maclean wearing a bright pink and orange dress with a green, purple and white rosette, a pearl necklace and blue and black framed glasses. The background is pink.
    Rachel Maclean, MP for Redditch by Annabel Staff © Annabel Staff "Being part of 209 women has been a true honour, to celebrate women in all their diversity from the MPs to the photographers, coming from so many different backgrounds and photographic disciplines. A truly remarkable feat, I’m so happy this has come together to celebrate a pivotal moment in our history. Photographing Rachel Maclean was a great experience, I had no idea what to expect having only seen MPs through the eye of the media – and I was surprised at how brilliantly normal the whole experience was in the end. We had such a fun shoot, and Rachel was completely open to my vision which resulted in a portrait that we both love." 
  • Shabana Mahmood seated at a contemporary wooden desk wearing a black and white pattern shirt with sheer sleeves. In the background is a brick wall with a metal frame from which hang framed pictures, postcards and small objects.
    Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham, Ladywood by Chrystal Ding ©Chrystal Ding "The portrait of Shabana Mahmood MP was taken at The Hive Café and Bakery in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter near her constituency office. The Hive is an education and community centre where 16-25 year olds with special educational needs – principally Asperger’s syndrome – can learn a trade while developing personal and social skills. In the background are images of two of Birmingham’s most beloved consumer products: Cadbury’s chocolate and Bird’s Custard. Shabana wears a traditional Pakistani outfit."
  • Anne Main standing in a low-lit stone arched corridor with a wall painting behind her and a light above. She wears a black dress with a red paper poppy pinned to the chest.
    Anne Main, MP for St Albans by Asimina Giagoudaki © Asimina Giagoudaki
  • Seema Malhotra seated sideways on a wood and metal chair, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, against a grey background.
    Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston by Claire Pepper © Claire Pepper "Photographed at my studio in Southwark, Seema wears a silk shirt by Winser London, styled by Alyson Walsh, with hair and make up by Karin Rees."
  • Rachael Maskell photographed through glass so a blurred outdoor scene is reflected around her face. She wears a pale grey jacket and dark red top.
    Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central by Kate Abbey © Kate Abbey
  • Black and white portrait of Theresa May wearing a black jacket with white details on the lapels and pockets.
    The Rt Hon Theresa May, Prime Minister and MP for Maidenhead by Zoe Law. Photo © Zoe Law "It was a complete honour to take The Prime Minister’s portrait for this empowering series, 209 Women. The image was shot inside 10 Downing Street , in the Pillared room. It felt appropriate to take The Prime Minister’s portrait in one of the most stately parts of Downing Street, which has received a great number of leaders from around the world. The team there were extremely kind, patient and helpful. The atmosphere is one that thrives on compassionate and supportive leadership, and it was not only an honour but a joy to feel part of it even for a very short while. "
  • Kerry McCarthy in a densely green space, standing next to a tree, wearing a dark red dress. In the background are three old gravestones.
    Kerry McCarthey, MP for Bristol East by Venetia Dearden © Venetia Dearden
  • Siobhain McDonagh wearing a maroon dress with a large lace-like pattern, standing beneath a tree. In the background is a an elaborate white clocktower which includes Victorian street lamps and a cross on the top.
    Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden by Carole Evans © Carole Evans "Siobhain McDonagh wanted to be photographed in her constituency of Mitcham & Morden, to which she is clearly dedicated. During the shoot, we were interrupted a few times by her constituents and I was impressed by the patience and time she spent talking and really listening them. At a time when MP’s are shown in a negative light by the press, this was a great reminder of their true role; that of listening and helping real people, and representing their needs in Parliament. Siobhain is photographed in Mitcham Town Centre, by the newly renovated Clock Tower." 
  • Alison McGovern sitting against a metal railing on the edge of a raised concrete path on a beach. A town scape is visible on the far side of a strip of water. A figure in a blue jacket looks across the water in the background.
    Alison McGovern, MP for Wirral South by Hilary Wood © Hilary Wood "My portrait of Alison McGovern was the first image of the series. There is a great sense of nostalgia in this piece, I am originally from the Wirral where Alison is an MP and Alison and I both attended the same school. I used an outdated 35mm film to bring this sense of nostalgia to the image. Alison is deep rooted in her constituency, the image was taken very close to her home (within her constituency) next to the River Mersey. The idea for this exhibition came from my own experiences of gender inequality. I’ve worked mainly in male-dominated fields for the past 18 years. I’ve got two daughters, Ava 5 and Harriet 3, and I wanted to be part of changing things so that they grow up in a society that is more gender equal. This exhibition will bring visibility to those women that are part of making the fundamental changes to women’s equality, and hopefully all those who come see it will take a moment to reflect and consider how then can improve gender parity in their own way."
  • Profile portrait of Liz McInnes with hair blown by the wind, wearing a red jacket and a black and white scarf with a repeated cat pattern.
    Liz McInnes, MP for Heywood and Middleton by Caroline Edge © Photograph by Caroline Edge "I asked to photograph Liz McInnes, MP for Rochdale and Heywood, because I admired her commitment to the NHS, informed by her impressive professional background as a biochemist. I also have a personal connection to the area, as I started my own career as a photographer there working as a freelance photographer for the Rochdale Observer and Middleton Guardian. We held our portrait session in the centre of Middleton, near St Leonard’s Parish Church, a historic area which speaks of the rich history of the town. The final photograph chosen for the exhibition has a plain background of red bricks, because of our Mancunian heritage. Our northern towns are built on an industrial past, and we should celebrate the strong female leaders like Liz, who throughout this history have made our industrial towns into communities."
  • Catherine McKinnell laughing and sitting on a bench from which a wide roll of pale green paper has unrolled onto and across the grass. She wears a dark blue dress, chunky necklace and pale shoes.
    Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North by Linda Brownlee © Linda Brownlee
  • Anna McMorrin wearing black, sitting on the arm of a grey sofa, next to a lamp, with an abstract painting on the wall.
    Anna McMorrin, MP for Cardiff North by Chloe Rosser © Chloe Rosser 2018 "I photographed Anna McMorrin at her home in Cardiff. I wanted to show her in an intimate environment that was personal to her. The home is a recurring feature in my work. I think that’s because it’s a space we build to comfort ourselves. It’s revealing and honest. She was surprised that I recognised her when we met at the station. We had lunch and spoke about reform and the experience of being a woman in parliament. Then I photographed her bathed in window light, surrounded by her belongings."
  • Esther McVey wearing a grey suit and shirt with one hand in her trouser pocket, standing in a narrow alley between stone buildings.
    Rt Hon Esther McVey, MP for Tatton by Carol Allen Storey © Photography by Carol Allen-Storey "My brand of photography is reportage photojournalism. The portrait created of Esther was a collaboration. We decided to meet up in her Tatton constituency to provide the informal atmosphere of who she represented. I travelled up on the train from London and met Esther at her favourite coffee house to chat about the shoot. We then explored the village and park where I made a variety of different portraits. We spent a relaxed, chatty afternoon together which allowed for a natural easy progression of the photographic shoot. It was a fun packed afternoon with many laughs."
  • Black and white portrait of Maria Miller in front of metal railings outside a stone building, wearing a black jacket, pale dress and necklace.
    Rt Hon Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke by Corinne Whitehouse © Photograph by Corinne Whitehouse "Inspired by politician and photographer Sir Benjamin Stone’s late-18th and early-19th century Parliamentary Scenes and Portraits , Maria Miller MP was photographed on the House of Commons Terrace using a 5×4 field camera and paper negatives. Hand-printed in the darkroom, this quiet portrait is in contrast to the buzz and activity of the terrace behind the camera."
  • Black and white portrait of Amanda Milling in partial profile, wearing a buttoned black jacket and looking to the left of the photograph.
    Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase © Photo by Kristina Salgvik
  • Anne Milton standing on a garden lawn surrounded by mature plants, wearing a white top, jeans and red trainers.
    Rt Hon Anne Milton, MP for Guildford by Lucy Levene © Lucy Levene
  • Carol Monaghan standing on a lawn with trees and bushes behind, wearing a blue sleeveless puffer jacket, a purple top, blue jeans and trainers. Two blurred children wearing tartan skirts are running around her.
    Carol Monaghan, MP for Glasgow North West by Margaret Mitchell © Margaret Mitchell "Glasgow is my home: a beautiful, varied city whose name means ‘Dear Green Place’. I approached photographing Carol as I do many other projects—by discussing together how we would represent her. Carol felt it important to dress as she would in her everyday life with a portrait that would reflect the varied aspects of her life. The location was in her constituency and involved her two young daughters in the final portrait when they came out of school. Carol made an impression on me as a strong, resolute woman who is a down-to-earth, responsive politician and an inspiring role model for her own daughters, the women of tomorrow."
  • Madeleine Moon smiling, standing in front of wooden bookshelves, wearing a red jacket and scarf, and black dress. There are wooden ladders on either side of her and her left hand rests on the back of a leather upholstered chair with a gold portcullis.
    Madeleine Moon by Caroline Molloy © Caroline Molloy
  • A narrow, wide-format portrait of Layla Moran. The photograph is divided into thirds with the blue-coloured centre section showing Moran reflected in a white dressing table mirror. On each side are partial views of Moran’s hair and shoulders against a pale background.
    Layla Moran, MP © Sharon Boothroyd, Parliamentary Art Collection
  • Penny Mordaunt leaning against a wooden desk, in front of a colourful map of the world. She wears a dark blue dress and jacket. On the desk are a green lamp, framed photograph and 3-tier paper tray.
    Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North © Magda Rakita
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Jessica Morden wearing black against a black background.
    A portrait of Jessica Morden ©Maisie Mary Marshall
  • Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot by Monika Fischbein © Monika Fischbein "I invited Anne Marie to an East London studio to make her portrait. The Chiaroscuro lighting setup complemented her dark hair and choice of navy jacket and skirt with white piping. I wanted the images to be free from distractions and Anne Marie’s presence to communicate her strength and grace at the same time. The final image reflects the deep perceptive nature of women. The importance of partaking in this project was to echo the female empowerment that will allow future generations’ true potential to be unlocked."
    Rt Hon Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough by Sophie Morris © Sophie Morris
  • Marie Morris seated wearing a black dress and jacket with white trim details and a brooch. The background is black and her hands rest in her lap.
    Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot by Monika Fischbein © Monika Fischbein "I invited Anne Marie to an East London studio to make her portrait. The Chiaroscuro lighting setup complemented her dark hair and choice of navy jacket and skirt with white piping. I wanted the images to be free from distractions and Anne Marie’s presence to communicate her strength and grace at the same time. The final image reflects the deep perceptive nature of women. The importance of partaking in this project was to echo the female empowerment that will allow future generations’ true potential to be unlocked."
  • Profile portrait of Wendy Morton wearing a bright orange jacket against a green foliage-patterned wallpaper.
    Wendy Morton, MP for Aldbridge-Brownhills by Ellen Nolan © Photograph by Ellen Nolan "I photographed Wendy in a House of Parliament meeting room facing the Thames. I wanted a pictorial image alluding to the fact that of all the paintings in Westminster, only a few are female sitters. Wendy was an immediately engaging, warm and down to earth person. She made no issue about standing on a table to get the desired wallpaper behind her for the image and even kicked her shoes off to stand firmer. Wendy is the first person I have ever photographed not to ask to see the photograph that is being taken. I think this shows trust, confidence and a lack of vanity, something unique given the circumstances."
  • Sheryll Murray sitting at a wooden desk with her hand resting next to a Newton’s Cradle desk toy which is in motion. There is a beige phone, a mobile phone, remote control and pot of pens on the desk. Murray wears a blue jacket, black framed glasses and pearls.
    Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall by Annabel Elston © Photograph by Annabel Elston
  • Black and white portrait of Lisa Nandy with arms crossed, wearing a black jacket, in front of an out-of-focus tree and pond. The photograph has a thin black frame around it and along the top reads ‘Kodak 100 TMX’.
    Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan by Alys Tomlinson © Alys Tomlinson "I’d seen Lisa Nandy on Question Time and really admired her frankness and commitment to the ‘ordinary’ people often marginalised by society. She was honest, upfront and passionate about what she believed in. The shoot was tough as I only had 20 minutes by the canal in rainy Wigan. The light was fading and I was battling in the wind with my 5×4 camera. We had a great discussion about socialism, working mums and the north/south divide."
  • Sarah Newton standing in a landscape among ruined stone buildings with purple and yellow flowers in the foreground. She wears a grey jacket, dark trousers and a yellow scarf.
    Sarah Newton MP, Wheales Coates © Bella West
  • Caroline Nokes photographed through glass with the reflections of trees across the image. A reflected raised hand blocks the reflection across Noke’s eyes, highlighting that part of her face.
    Rt Hon Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North by Tina Hillier © Tina Hillier "It was pouring with rain the day I met Caroline but coordinating diaries had been a challenge so there was no postponing. After initial frustrations I yielded to the Great British weather and found something quite beautiful in the subdued wintery light of Romsey. After a quick shoot Caroline got back into her car and I was immediately struck by her more relaxed off guard expression so I took a couple more frames and they ended up being the favourites."
  • Fiona Onasanya standing outdoors in front of stone archways, on a cobbled path, wearing a black coat and a floral patterned top. There are trees in the distance through the archway.
    Fiona Onasanya, MP for Peterborough by Leo Goddard © Leo Goddard "I met Fiona at her constituency office in Peterborough where, during a break in the rain on a very wintry day, she stoically agreed to brave the weather and be photographed in the grounds of the neighbouring Cathedral. The shoot was in the midst of what could only have been a very challenging time, and I was awed by Fiona’s calm and kindness under duress."
  • Melanie Onn standing on a grassy bank next to a harbour, wearing a yellow dress. In the background are buildings.
    Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby by Joanne Coates © Joanne Coates "Who wants to talk about class I hear you say rolling your eyes. Bear with me. I do, and I really really want you to listen. This brilliant woman, Melanie Onn, gives people hope. We have a common thread at 16 we were both homeless, both from working class backgrounds. It is important for women like us, for our names to be on the wall in a place like this, for you to see it, for young women who might not be having the best of time to see it. I photographed Melanie in a Triptych, the past, the present and the future. To reflect the importance of a struggle and hard journey. We are here, we are important, listen and let this not be the only photograph of a working class woman by a working class woman. The future is diverse!"
  • Chi Onwurah standing looking out of a window, lit by the outside light, and pushing a sheer cream curtain to the side. She wears a black and white striped shawl over a black and white patterned shirt.
    Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central by Tereza Červeňová © Tereza Červeňová
  • Kate Osamor standing in sunlight outside a large stone building, wearing a purple floral patterned jacket. There are benches in the background and tall street lights with spherical lamps.
    Kate Osamor, MP for Edmonton by Charlie Edwards © Charlie Edwards Photography "I requested to work with Kate because of the fortitude she brings to representing the people of North London. A place that can be extremely hard on those from lower income families but a place of immense social and cultural value. We met at Ally Pally to shoot because of the significance it has to all North Londoners. A special place where you can come and connect with music and the arts no matter what societal group you have come from. An important icon for North London’s history and future. Women like Kate have been pushed away from politics for so long by the prejudices of the established political landscape. Kate has fought and continues to fight for the betterment of her community as well as the world as a whole. Kate is an engaging, fierce advocate for the people and brings an impressive style and creativity to the traditional halls of Westminster. Working with 5×4 and Medium Format we shot only a few images as I knew the discussion and connection we developed was the most important part of the portrait. I think the image shows Kate and North London as the bright future of the UK."
  • Priti Patel wearing a dark green sari with gold embroidered details and large gold earrings, standing in a sunny field of long grass.
    Rt Hon Priti Patel, MP for Witham by Rhiannon Adam © Rhiannon Adam "This portrait was created as part of 209 Women. I chose Priti Patel for the controversial and often divisive nature of her political views, which are completely at odds with my own. There is nothing we agree on. I wanted to look beyond the divisions and find our similarities, to create this portrait together – to bridge the gulf, to see her as a person with a life beyond the politics. Priti Patel was gracious, open, and compelling company. In normal circumstances, we never know one another’s’ political views until further into a relationship – with this project, this was front and centre. I was keen, however, to treat the shoot as I do one with a friend. This was taken in Tollesbury, within her constituency, and Priti and I clambered down the marshy landscape to an area with long grasses that would bring out the gold in her dress. She chose her own wardrobe, according to some colour instructions given by me, and was keen to emphasise her Indian heritage. We spent many hours together, before we drove back and she dropped me at the train station. It was very informal and enjoyable."
  • Three Polaroid photographs, each with a white border, with Stephanie Peacock in the centre wearing a pink dress with black details. She is sitting at the stone base of a statue with black and white portrait photos running in a horizontal band round it. The left photo is a closer view of these portraits with two people looking at them, and the right photo is the same object from another angle.
    Stephanie Peacock, MP for Barnsley East by Becky Warnock © Becky Warnock "Steph sits at the base of the Millicent Fawcett statue, surrounded by 60 other men and women who campaigned for women’s suffrage. Without these women, we would not have any female MPs and I hope this campaign continues to inspire a new generation of young women to take up positions in leadership."
  • Teresa Pearce spotlit against a dark background of a body of water with city lights illuminated in the distance. Pearce leans against a metal railing and is wearing a jacket with oversized lapels.
    Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith and Thamesmead By Monika K Adler © Monika K Adler "I photographed Teresa Pearce, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, in her constituency, on the longest pier in London. It’s a potentially risky venture when artist meets politician, but Teresa turned out to be a warm and beautiful woman, far from typical perceptions of the political hierarchy with its coldness and superiority. I portrayed her wisdom and openness to the world and other people."
  • Head and shoulder portrait of Claire Perry with a grey-blue tone, wearing a dark jacket with upturned collar and a small Union Jack badge.
    Rt Hon Claire Perry, MP for Devizes by Lenka Rayn H © Lenka Rayn H "Not being born in the UK I found a connection with my MP Claire Perry through my father in-law who was born in her constituency of Devizes. I love working with daylight so I set up my portable studio in the best light I could find near Claire’s office. This happened to be a corridor with a broken lift near a stairwell. The location had the most amazing view overlooking the Houses of Parliament which Claire could admire while I quickly took her portrait. We shared a few moments of calm in the middle of her very busy day."
  • Black and white portrait of Jess Phillips with pierced and stitched additions to the photograph. Phillips is seated with eyes closed, one arm raised at a right angle and the other diagonally towards the ground, wearing a black top and black and white patterned trousers. An oval shape encircles her, while stitched elements form a circle on her chest and a rippling shape down each side of her body and across her head.
    Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham, Yardley by Jessa Fairbrother © Jessa Fairbrother "This photograph shows Jess posed symbolically within a shield made with unique perforations and hand-embroidery on the surface of the print itself. This acknowledges what is projected upon Jess as a female figure in public life. The piece is an interpretation and response to both her resilience and commitment to the liberation of all women."
  • Bridget Phillipson sitting wearing a dark blue dress, against a dark grey background with an arm resting on the back of a contemporary wood chair.
    Bridget Phillipson, MP for Houghton and Sunderland South by Leonora Saunders © Leonora Saunders
  • Jo Platt, MP for Leigh by Liz Wewiora © Liz Wewiora (2018)
    Laura Pidcock, MP for North West Durham by Andrea Allan © Andrea Allan
  • Jo Platt wearing a red dress, standing in a brick warehouse with white tiles on the lower walls, next to a large piece of antique machinery. There are green metal shelves to the left and a large window in the background.
    Jo Platt, MP for Leigh by Liz Wewiora © Liz Wewiora (2018)
  • Rebecca Pow Rebecca Pow in profile, wearing a green jacket with foliage pattern, standing facing into sunlight with eyes closed. Around her are green bushes and trees and a blue sky.
    Rebecca Pow, MP for Taunton Deane by Abbie-Trayler Smith Photograph © Abbie Trayler-Smith
  • Lucy Powell standing spotlit in a dark space with a strong shadow behind her. She wears a dress with a large floral pattern and above her is a small stained glass window.
    Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central by Leticia Valverdes © Leticia Valverdes "Lucy Powell was photographed in one of her favourite places in Manchester. The Central library, where she also runs a surgery, holds proudly the city’s coat of Arms “Concilio et Labore” (Councel and Work) above its majestic front doors. This was only few metres away from another great building, the Free Trade Hall, where many public meetings to address the case for women’s suffrage happened. As the second ever female MP in the history of the city that gave birth to the suffragette movement, Lucy’s passion and hard work inspires. In fact, inspired by Emmeline Pankhurst who used to address women on rallies from the top of a chair, I asked Lucy if she would be up for recreating that. We had great fun while she graciously balanced on a chair. But as we walked through the library’s beautiful entrance hall the sun shone for a couple of minutes. Enough for 2 shots. One of each was chosen as our final picture."
  • Close portrait of Victoria Prentis wearing a black top and gold necklace which is out of focus.
    Victoria Prentis, MP for Banbury by Barbara Asboth © Barbara Asboth "Historically, women have often been reduced to smiling and looking pretty in portraits. For Victoria’s portrait, taken in her garden at sunset, our aim instead of that was an open, somewhat intense, and ever so slightly vulnerable expression, to show her as the approachable yet strong and determined woman that she is. To stop viewers for a moment and hope to establish a connection with them, not as a politician but as a human being."
  • Yasmin Qureshi holding a grey barrister’s wig, wearing a white shirt and sitting on a chair with a gold portcullis partially visible. The room has tall wooden bookshelves and long green curtains.
    Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East by Hannah Collins © Photo Courtesy of Hannah Collins "We decided to focus on Yasmin Qureshi’s career as a barrister before she entered parliament for this picture which was taken in the library at Westminster. Yasmin spoke a lot about growing up in Britain after coming from Pakistan as a young child. As her companion that day it seemed as if she had climbed some immense mountains during her life."
  • Black and white portrait of Angela Rayner sitting on a stone bench between trees, wearing a white top and pale skirt. She gazes off to one side.
    Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne by Ellen Rogers © Ellen Rogers "For me it was very important to photograph Angela Rayner in particular as her work reflects a great solidarity for the working class and stands as a representation for those who struggle. We spoke briefly about how to encapsulate her history here at parliament and we did so by showing her in her ‘old office’ where she used to work before she had a real office, on the bench outside surrounded by trees. I think this image is true to my work and hers, shot on film in true authenticity, no photoshop, no frills, just honesty and labour." 
  • Black and white portrait of Christina Rees with hands behind her back, standing on a lawn surrounded by trees next to a small concrete building. Rees wears a suit with a pale shirt.
    Christina Rees MP for Neath by Francesca Jones © Francesca Jones
  • Black and white portrait of Ellie Reeves wearing a black top, against a crumpled fabric background with a sheer piece of fabric between the camera and Reeves, the edge of which creates a curved diagonal line across the photograph.
    Ellie Reeves by Bex Day © Bex Day
  • A grainy, soft-focus portrait of Rachel Reeves lightly spotlit against a dark background, wearing a shirt with a large pink floral pattern.
    Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West by Emma Critchley © Emma Critchley: www.emmacritchley.com "I had the privilege of photographing Rachel Reeves, MP of Leeds West. Rachel and I had a connection, as she was instrumental to a successful campaign to save Bramley Baths. As well as being an advocate of keeping public swimming pools alive, I was familiar with Bramley Baths as I installed a film piece in there a few years ago. Our portrait was made using a camera obscura. I usually work underwater and wanted to create an image, which has some of the same qualities of light and timelessness of this space that we both feel passionate about." 
  • Emma Reynolds wearing a red jacket and black top leaning against a black railing with a stadium in the background with obscured writing across the tiered seating which reads ‘-OLVES’
    Emma Reynolds, MP for Wolverhampton North East by Jan Williams © Jan Williams / The Caravan Gallery "Emma was keen to have her portrait taken at Wolverhampton Civic Centre on a balcony overlooking the city towards her constituency and the Wolverhampton Wanderers FC ground. I think Emma looks great in this photo, very natural and approachable but business-like and a little bit feisty, ready to get stuck in with the business of representing her constituents. I’m grateful to Emma and her assistant Kate for their warm welcome, also to Chris Teasdale, my partner at The Caravan Gallery, for his support. As the daughter of former councillor and mayor of Wirral Patricia Williams I’m proud to be part of 209 Women. Fiona Bruce, MP for Congleton by Nicola Morley I had the honour of photographing MP for Congleton, Fiona Bruce at her church in Middlewich where she is an active member of the congregation. On a bitter and grey late October morning, she stood outside the 12 century church, flanked by the corbels. We celebrated the North West and the importance of women being recognised in society, both Church and State. I could not be more proud and humbled to have been involved in this incredible initiative involving a host of amazing women."
  • Marie Rimmer smiling and wearing a red top with a blue scarf. In the background is a bright window and part of a beige curtain and sofa.
    Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston by Emma Case © Emma Case "The original idea was to head to St Helens Rugby for the shoot but when I arrived with Nova (one of her case workers) at Marie’s house I immediately saw HER. I asked if we could stay and do the shoot at home. Two minutes later I had a cuppa, some shortbread and we were talking about everything from the prison system to haircuts Seeing a number of projects that are emerging that are celebrating 100 years that women achieved the vote.. It has brought my focus towards both how far we’ve come and how far we have to go in terms of women today. As a Mother and a Photographer I feel that in one sense we have an element of freedom but at the same time we are trying to navigate deeply entrenched societal fixtures and barriers. I feel this project in particular caught my attention because of the coming together of women in two seemingly very different fields. But for some reason I feel our similarities are bigger than our differences. As a photographer and as an MP I feel that we are both curious. Curious in how things work, in people, in relationships, in creating awareness and change. I couldn’t think of a better collaboration to bring the two together." 
  • Mary Robinson standing on stone steps holding a black open umbrella with a red stem, and an open book in the other hand, smiling at the camera. She wears a white cream jacket, white shirt and black trousers.
    Mary Robinson, MP for Cheadle by Christian Doyle © Christian Doyle "Choosing Mary Robinson as my subject was based on wanting another perspective from across the geographical and political divide. Travelling to Cheadle was part of getting to know Mary and to discover the place where she is at home. I’d seen her talking in the Commons and knew that one of her passions is the preservation of the Green Belt around Cheadle. My plan to use the countryside as a location were scuppered by gale force winds and torrential rain but luckily Abney Hall (Agatha Christie’s country house inspiration) provided an elegant background to the final portrait."
  • Danielle Rowley standing in a residential street in front of mid-20th century two-storey houses with cars parked outside. She wears a black tshirt with red illustrations, including one depicting an anatomical heart, She also wears black jeans and patterned shoes.
    Danielle Rowley, MP for Midlothian by Sarah Weal © Sarah Weal "I flew to Scotland in the middle of Storm Ali to photograph Danielle. We were a perfect fit. In my work, I shun artifice, I like to react to the mood and conditions presented. Danielle wanted to show her true self so we decided to take the portrait in front of the house she has lived in her entire life. There was never any question of staging. Danielle is proud of her background, her youth, her gender, and the people she represents. Like Storm Ali, Danielle is an impressive force of nature. I doubt she will blow over so quickly."
  • Amber Rudd sitting on a wooden chair dressed in black trousers, top and shoes with gold detail, leaning forward with lower arms resting on thighs. The background is white, the floor is wood.
    Rt Hon Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye by Jane McLeish Kelsey © Jane Mcleish-Kelsey "I asked Amber if she would like location or studio and she choose my studio in Primrose Hill. I was keen to make it like a natural snap, nothing set up or lit, no styling hair or makeup. It was just that and Amber is such an interesting, intelligent, attractive and confident woman. It was an easy shoot and we were done in 15 minutes. I has 5 frames I was really happy with. I only wish we had all day to chat!"
  • Rt Hon Joan Ryan Joan Ryan wearing a red dress, standing between two large bushes that are shaped like squares with triangular tops. She holds her arms half outstretched with palms to the sky.
    Rt Hon Joan Ryan, MP for Enfield North by Nadège Mériau © Photography by Nadège Mériau "Following our initial conversation, Joan Ryan suggested several locations that were meaningful to her within her Enfield North constituency. I visited Capel Manor Agricultural College’s grounds – which double as a garden open to the public for most of the year – and was particularly drawn to the maze and its surroundings. I asked Joan to wear any colour but black and navy blue for the photoshoot. In this image, Joan is standing between two ‘houses’ as she is telling me how women originally had to sit behind grilles when they came to parliament."
  • Antoinette Sandbach sitting in a wood-panelled interior with patterned carpet, wearing a pale blue jacket and black dress, with folded arms.
    Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury by Eva Vermande © Eva Vermande "I’m a leftie and chose to photograph a Conservative MP to build bridges and connect with people who come in from a different political angle than me. That said, I did cheat a little bit and picked a woman I knew I’d still be sharing a lot with: Antoinette Sandbach, an outspoken women’s rights advocate and staunch Remainer. Antoinette was brilliant,  both during the photo session and afterwards, and I hope we can stay in touch, it’s been a joy to meet her." 
  • Liz Saville Roberts standing next to a grey horse, on a beach with the sea in the background. Saville Roberts wears a grey fitted jacket, black jodphurs and black riding boots.
    Rt Hon Liz Saville Roberts MP, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, by Eleri Griffiths © Eleri Griffiths Photographer "Photographed on the 16th September 2018. Location Morfa Nefyn LLyn Peninsular, North Wales."
  • Head and shoulders portrait of Naz Shah wearing a black jacket with a green patterned scarf and silver necklace and white ribbon brooch. The background is black with out-of-focus bright pink and green floral pattern.
    Naz Shah, MP for Bradford West by Jenny Matthews © Jenny Matthews "I was really pleased to photograph Naz Shah because of her work on violence against women, symbolized by the white ribbon she is wearing . I took my Pakistani bedspread with me to use as a backdrop as I was worried that Portcullis House would be a bland location. I met Naz on the morning she had just settled her children into their new school and I loved her energy and feistiness."
  • Paula Sherriff seated at a table cutting a square cake that reads ‘Women of Dewsbury’ and surrounded by 16 women, children and babies. She wears a black top with floral details. There are cups of tea and smaller cakes on the table and ribbons of pink, purple and blue crepe paper. A child in a woman’s arms holds a bright pink balloon.
    Paula Sherriff, MP for Dewsbury by Sian Bonnell © Sian Bonnell
  • Ruth Smeeth, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North by Emily Andersen © Emily Andersen "It was an honour to photograph Ruth Smeeth because I knew about her work for ‘Hope not hate’, and her commitment as an MP. She suggested places in her constituency, Stoke-on-Trent North. I photographed her in a brewery, a pottery and a regenerated park. We talked throughout the shoot, about her political life, her feeling for her constituents and her mother who was a trade unionist. My assistant Gordon Jackson and I were touched by her openness and honesty. I wanted to create a portrait that showed Ruth in contemplation and stillness, a moment in contrast to her hectic daily life."
    Tulip Siddiq, MP for Hampstead and Kilburn by Jillian Edelstein © Jillian Edelstein "After a few discussions with Tulip before the shoot day we came up with the idea of using the EU flag as a symbolic prop. Tulip has called for a second referendum. She has highlighted the “unquantifiable contribution” made by the 22,000 EU Nationals living in her constituency. “This is Their Home” she recently declared while addressing parliament. In 2012 during a shoot for a NPG/Olympics commission, in a room at the GLC (City Hall) we threw the UK flag behind Boris Johnson to create a strong visual. This time we threw the EU flag. How much has changed."
  • Ruth Smeeth sitting outdoors wearing a dark blue dress with white trim details. In the background are grey posts, railings and paving. There is a superimposed brown line creating a frame around the edge of the photograph.
    Ruth Smeeth, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North by Emily Andersen © Emily Andersen "It was an honour to photograph Ruth Smeeth because I knew about her work for ‘Hope not hate’, and her commitment as an MP. She suggested places in her constituency, Stoke-on-Trent North. I photographed her in a brewery, a pottery and a regenerated park. We talked throughout the shoot, about her political life, her feeling for her constituents and her mother who was a trade unionist. My assistant Gordon Jackson and I were touched by her openness and honesty. I wanted to create a portrait that showed Ruth in contemplation and stillness, a moment in contrast to her hectic daily life."
  • Angela Smith standing on a stepped wooden stile between dry stone walls. She wears a bright blue outdoor jacket, black leggings and brown walking boots. On the left is an arrow-shaped sign which points in two directions and reads ‘Public Footpath’. The sky is blue with a few fluffy clouds.
    Angela Smith, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge by Jennifer Robertson © Jennifer Robertson
  • A digitally manipulated portrait of Cat Smith in which she appears 4 times in different poses in a domestic room with white walls, a wooden floor and blue-grey upholstered chairs around a wooden table. Smith appears seated at the table at a laptop with children’s toys next to it, crouching next to a baby bouncer, standing with a baby in a sling and blurred in motion. There is a crib in one corner and a garden is visible through glass doors.
    Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood by Tabitha Jussa © Tabitha Jussa “I was initially unsure as to whether the shoot would go ahead as Cat had very recently become a mother for the first time. I assumed that she would be on maternity leave, but on my visit, Cat informed me that MP’s do not qualify for maternity leave. I had no idea and was amazed at her energy and sheer determination to juggle, very successfully, being a mother and serving her constituents of Lancaster and Fleetwood. The photograph I have made is a representation of the challenges shared by all new working mothers and highlights the inequalities that women still face within the work place. I can only imagine how tough Cat’s job must be!”
  • Chloe Smith with arms folded standing outdoors in the centre of a structure with low walls and stone columns in front of trees. Smith wears a beige jacket, green top and blue jeans and shoes.
    Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North by Debby Besford © Debby Besford "It was a pleasure to photograph Chloe Smith on a very hot day, last summer. We met at Waterloo Park, Norwich North, which is in the heart of her constituency. Chloe is one of the youngest MPs in the country and is very committed. She spoke passionately about her work and family life. We had a limited amount of time together, but shared stories about our professions and how important it is to encourage more women to consider careers that have been mainly dominated by men. A very inspiring woman and an honour to meet."
  • Eleanor Smith wearing a long leopard print jacket over a white, blue and black dress, standing in a room with white tiled walls and a stainless steel door with a round glass window in it. She holds her arms half outstretched with palms up.
    Eleanor Smith, MP for Wolverhampton South West © Hana Knizova
  • Laura Smith wearing a black jacket with pink trousers standing next to a pond surrounded by rushes and trees.
    Laura Smith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich by Laura Dicken © Laura Dicken "It felt important to me that Laura Smith MP chose a location for the shoot that deeply resonated with her. I wanted the portrait to capture as much of Laura’s personality as possible, make sure that she felt at ease and could be seen as a valued member of the her community as well as an MP. Laura chose the local park within her constituency as the park held happy personal memories for her and is a well loved public space. I made the portrait with a medium format camera and only one roll of film."
  • Karin Smyth seated among long grass wearing a coral jacket. In the background are trees and a row of colourful terraced houses.
    Karin Smyth, MP for Bristol South by Trish Morrissey © Trish Morrissey
  • Anna Soubry standing next to a grey mural on a brick wall that depicts a figure wearing a dress and cap and carrying a large object. Soubry wears a white top and blue jacket.
    Rt Hon Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe by Del Barrett © Del Barrett "Anna chose the location, which was a street-art tribute to the Canary Girls, so called because their skin turned yellow when they were exposed to the toxins in the munitions factory. The National Munitions Factory in Chilwell was in Anna’s constituency and in 1918 there was a large explosion which killed 134 people, so the artwork was part of the centenary commemoration."
  • Caroline Spelman sitting on a red upholstered bench with a wooden back wearing a blue top, grey jeans and a pastel patterned scarf. The lower half of the white wall behind is clad in wood and strong sunlight casts a pattern on the wall.
    Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman © Dragana Jurisic "Dame Caroline Spelman was photographed on 19th October 2018 in her constituency."
  • Jo Stevens sitting with hands resting on a table, wearing a dark top. The overall light is low with Stevens lit in red and the background a lilac-pink tone.
    Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central by Clementine Schneidermann © Clementine Schneidermann "I photographed Jo in her office in Cardiff. I wanted to play with lights and have a very surreal environment to break the image you often see of politicians."
  • Jo Swinson wearing black leggings and a long-sleeved pink sports top, standing on a gravel path between trees.
    Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire by Nicola Tree © Nicola Tree "Jo Swinson is the elected MP for East Dunbartonshire which was recently voted the by Radio 4 Women’s Hour as the best place to live in Britain for women. Her beautiful constituency spans sixty seven square miles of incredible green space. Jo takes full advantage of this and regularly runs the hills and loch’s regardless of the weather and this shoot proved no exception! 209 Women is a inspiring initiative, I believe it is only by providing an alternative visual narrative women can truly be inspired to achieve."
  • Alison Thewliss standing in a stairwell with a large sash window, photographed from slightly above. The lower walls are glossy teal and the upper matt cream. Thewliss wears a long dark coat.
    Alison Thewliss, MP for Scottish National Party by Kirsty Mackay © Kirsty Mackay "Being a part of ‘209 Women’ has been such a positive experience. I loved meeting Alison Thewlis. I have continued following her work both in her constituency and her speeches in the commons. It’s been amazing to have a greater insight into our political system and to have a personal connection to another woman who is also a Member of Parliament. It’s a very powerful act to bring all these women together. Photography is often a solitary pursuit, so it means a great deal to join together with so many talented photographers matching us with equally inspirational female politicians."
  • Profile portrait of Emily Thornberry taken outside at night with a dark tree in the background. She wears black and her face is brightly lit. In the background are out-of-focus lights.
    Rt Hon Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury by Lydia Goldblatt © Lydia Goldblatt
  • Black and white photograph divided into 9 frames all taken from above. In the top left is a head and shoulders portrait of Maggie Throup lying down, wearing a zip up top and dark framed glasses. The other frames each show a single object: a pear, a garden trowel, a sweetcorn, a boot filled with succulent plants, a pumpkin, an open book, a bottle and a map.
    Maggie Throup, MP for Erewash by Tamsin Green © Tamsin Green "Assemblage portrait of Maggie. As a landscape and still life photographer, I was keen to explore the idea of a portrait as an assemblage of personal objects. We met at Maggie’s home, where she gathered items that embody her love of exploring the natural world. Each of the objects and Maggie herself were photographed individually in her garden on the local Derbyshire Sandstone. The images were then collectively assembled to create the portrait."
  • Kelly Tolhurst wearing heavy duty black waterproof clothing with silver reflective strips, seated in a room with several tables and blue upholstered chairs. From the ceiling hangs bunting of brightly coloured sea flags. A portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh hangs on a wall above a table with a plastic cloth, on which is a small mermaid figurine, and salt and pepper shakers. On another table is a round bowl with a goldfish.
    Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood by Jooney Woodward © Jooney Woodward "Kelly enjoys competing regularly in sailing events and is passionate about the River Medway and the area, having grown up around her Dad’s boat building business in Borstal. Shot on film, I photographed her in the Medway Yacht Club, which she has been a member of for many years."
  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan standing on a rocky beach with a castle on a mound in the distance. Trevelyan wears a black jacket and skirt with white trim and details.
    Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed by Sylwia Kowalczyk © Sylwia Kowalczyk "Anne-Marie mentioned in her emails to me that she wanted to meet in her constituency as this particular location was important to her so I travelled down from Edinburgh to Northumberland to take picture in her preferred location. We’ve scouted a couple of spots around the impressive Bamburgh castle before the shoot and decided to stay on the beach side. In the end I’ve decided to shoot with an added light source to underline gravitas of the subject. Fierce wind and rolling clouds added to an outdoorsy feel prefferred by the MP for her image."
  • Elizabeth Truss wearing a grey dress, red coat and black wellington boots, sitting next to an apple tree and holding a single red apple. A textured grey fabric backdrop hangs behind her, with a tree visible above the top edge, and grass at the bottom, and 3 apples on the ground.
    Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss, MP for South West Norfolk by Sophie Ellen © Photographer: Sophie Ellen "This portrait was photographed at Hockwold Hall, situated in Elizabeth’s constituency and close to where I grew up. It has a direct link to the Suffragettes, as Princess Sofia previously lived there. We had an all-female team on set and sourced clothing from Norfolk based brands (Jarrolds) and NUA graduate designers, this portrait featuring a dress by Katie Illingsworth. I feel 209 Women is an important exhibition to raise awareness of women in photography and politics. These are very male dominated; therefore, it is inspiring to see, and be a part of, a project that is championing women within this."
  • Anna Turley wearing a black outdoor coat and black trousers standing in a field with a large complex of industrial buildings in the background and hills beyond. In the extreme foreground is out-of-focus long grass.
    Anna Turley, MP for Redcar by Claudia Janke © Claudia Janke "Anna and I met three times: to meet and discuss the shoot, to do the shoot and to view the exhibition together. We decided to take Anna’s picture at Redcar in front of the recently closed Steel-Works as it stands for her passion for her constituency and the fight the people of Redcar are up against."
  • Liz Twist standing in a small hall with pale green walls, red curtains and a row of chairs along one wall, with a stage at the far end. Twist wears a red top, cream jacket and black trousers. Sunlight from the 3 windows is cast across the wooden floor.
    Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon by Ellie Smith © Ellie Smith – www.elliesmithphotography.co.uk "When I think of politicians, I often visualise the seemingly inaccessible grandeur of Westminster. The afternoon that I spent with Liz reminded me that most MPs are in fact firmly rooted in their communities, serving the people that they represent. This portrait shows Liz in the community hall that houses her constituency office, at the heart of her constituency of Blaydon. I chose to photograph Liz after listening to her very touching maiden speech, and I would encourage everyone to seek it out. It takes a huge amount of courage to speak so publicly about such deeply personal matters, and I truly admire Liz for using her own experience to bring about positive change for others."
  • Valerie Vaz sitting on stool next to a dock surrounded by contemporary buildings and older brick ones. Vaz wears a purple jacket and skirt with black tights and trousers. The sky is overcast.
    Valerie Vaz, MP for Walsall South by Frances Kearney © Frances Kearney
  • Theresa Villiers wearing a jacket with a wide green fur collar and looking straight into the camera. In the lower half of the photograph are 5 hands holding smartphones with black screens which are pointing at Villiers. The background is wood panelling.
    Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet by Holly McGlynn © Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet by Holly McGlynn "I’m a fashion photographer and wanted to ensure my style of photography: flashy, poppy, and colourful, came across in this shoot. I arrived at Portcullis House with a full glam squad and turned a little corner of the Houses of Parliament into a fashion studio. Styling by Aesthetic Candy and hair and make-up by Vanessa Evelyn."
  • Black and white portrait of Thelma Walker standing in a field of long grass wearing a dark top and light scarf. In the background are low hills dotted with white-walled houses. In the extreme foreground is long, out-of-focus grass. Around the photograph is a black frame which reads ‘KODAK 400TMY-2’; ‘53’ and ‘10’ between two arrows.
    Thelma Walker, MP for Colne Valley by Casey Orr © Casey Orr "‘This portrait is a collaboration. MP Thelma Walker and I spent a warm day in late summer talking, drinking tea, watching the light change over the hills above the Colne Valley and taking pictures. It was such a joy to share thoughts about how our work strives to give voice to those who need to be heard and makes visible those whose we need to see. ‘209 Women’ connects women from different disciplines and introduces us to each other. Beyond the exhibition the is so much potential in these conversations and collaborations."
  • Catherine West wearing a black dress and leggings with a bright pink and purple scarf, standing with arms folded on a curved concrete balcony with a railing on the left, and a white building on the right with a canopy which extends over the balcony. There are yellow lines around the bases of the building and railing and the sun casts shadows.
    Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green by Vicki Couchman © Vicki Couchman
  • Helen Whately standing in a sunlit apple orchard wearing a blue dress, black leather jacket and green wellington boots. Her arms are folded and in one hand she holds a red apple.
    Helen Whatley, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent by Polly Penrose © Polly Penrose
  • Heather Wheeler holding an owl, standing in dark woodland with brown fallen leaves on the ground. Wheeler is lightly spotlit from one side, and wears a green quilted outdoor jacket, black trousers, green wellington boots, a pale scarf and brown leather gloves.
    Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire by Danyelle Rolla © Photographer Danyelle Rolla "The portrait of Heather Wheeler MP, was taken in the grounds of Bretby Hall in her beautiful constituency of South Derbyshire. The owl, handled professionally by Heather, represents the knowledge and wisdom that comes with equal and fair representation. This portrait also has a slightly satirical tone as I wanted to capture Heather as the “Typical Tory”, pearl necklace and all! It was a pleasure to be a part of this project and work with Heather Wheeler MP. Comrade Danyelle." 
  • Philippa Whitford wearing a blue striped jacket with a dark blue velvet scarf, a brooch and earrings, sitting in a wingback mustard chair in front of a pale blue wall with white plaster details.
    Dr Philippa Whitford, MP for Central Ayrshire by Arpita Shah © Arpita Shah "I photographed Dr. Philippa Whitford at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow because alongside her role as an MP, she is also breast surgeon and is a fellow of the Royal College. Politics and medicine are both incredibly significant to Philippa, so I really wanted to symbolise this in her portrait. It’s been such an inspiring experience to be part of such a large-scale collaboration between female Politicians and female photographers across UK. 209 Women is an important and relevant exhibition and I’m so grateful to be part of it." 
  • Rosie Winterton wearing a multi-coloured leopard print dress and pink shoes, standing on a wooden boardwalk jetty with water on the right side and long reeds in the background.
    Rt Hon Dame Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central by Sara Fiorino © Sara Fiorino
  • Black and white portrait of Sarah Wollaston wearing a black jacket, white top, necklace and earrings, standing in front of a large rock formation with horizontal and diagonal crevices. Her right hand is outstretched, resting on the rock face.
    Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes by Clare Park © Photograph by Clare Park. "Following my initial meeting with Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, I felt her natural beauty and reserve was better suited to an outdoor shoot within the landscape of her constituency in South Devon. This plan took me to Combestone Tor on Dartmoor one windswept day in August. Our chosen location of hard fissured granite seemed to represent the fractured world of politics and her constituency fractured by the divisions created by Brexit. Sarah’s time frame was limited, delayed by a jack-knifed caravan on a nearby lane and squeezed into our post lunch slot before a radio interview and Newsnight. We moved around the increasingly stormy Tor – just the two of us, no frills, no props, only watering eyes! Towards the end of the shoot Sarah looked out across the moor and in the split second of a single frame I suddenly captured both the intensity and poise of her character. We said our farewells and then Sarah rushed off to her next appointment. I drove home to watch Newsnight – same dress, same woman – no front. Impressive." 

You can read more about the project on the 209 Women website.

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