Murdo Macleod: 'He beguiles his sitters to audacious effect'

Beryl Bainbridge, August 2001. 'She was by a grey Portakabin, fag in hand,' says Macleod. 'The word "gritty" comes to mind.’
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Andy (top) and Jamie Murray, April 2008. ‘They were like two excited schoolboys.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Ricky Hatton ­recreates a scene from Rocky at a Manchester butchers, October 2007. 'It was pure spoof,' Macleod says. Two months later, ­Hatton lost his world boxing crown.
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Margaret Thatcher in Cumbernauld, 29 June 1991; later that day she stood down from ­parliament. 'Her ­emotion made her a tremendous ­photographic subject.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Bobby Charlton, ­January 2009. 'I'd taken a pile of serious pictures, and wanted something light-hearted. He was more than willing to oblige.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Cattle carcasses smoulder at the height of the foot and mouth ­crisis, March 2001.
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Tony Blair ­explains his stance on Iraq to the Labour spring conference, ­February 2003. 'There was a demonstration going on outside,' ­Macleod says. 'I shone a light to show the ­degree of excitement ­inside him.­'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

David Cameron on the campaign trail, April 2010.
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Amir Khan and his sister Mariyah, ­January 2006.
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

­Conductor and ­composer Sir ­Peter Maxwell ­Davies in the Orkney Islands, June 2004. 'That wasn't his dog. It was just passing by.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Fourteen-year-old ­golfing twins Lisa and Leona Maguire, ­September 2009.
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Alistair ­Darling, ­August 2008. 'He was trusting and straightforward, which left him slightly vulnerable.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Martin Amis, ­October 2001. 'He exudes a certain seriousness.'
Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Gordon Brown at home in Fife, January 2009. 'He wasn’t ­having a breakdown, he was just composing his thoughts.'

An exhibition of Murdo Macleod’s photographs will run from Monday 30 August until 28 October at the Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, open daily from 10am-6pm, admission free. An illustrated catalogue is available from Guardian Books for £12 (rrp £15).
Photograph: Murdo Macleod