Lottery winners snapped by celebrity photographer for 30th anniversary

Thirty National Lottery winners from the last three decades enjoyed an “incredible experience” in a shoot by a celebrity British photographer to celebrate the lottery’s 30th birthday.

The 30 millionaires, worth more than £190 million, gathered for a photoshoot by Rankin, who has photographed famous faces ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to the Rolling Stones.

It is exactly 30 years since National Lottery tickets first went on sale in the UK on November 14 1994.

Rankin takes a picture of Matt Evans, aged 44, from Barry in Wales, who is one of 30 millionaires selected to have their portrait taken by Rankin (Matt Alexander/PA)

Natalie Cunliffe, 39, won £1 million from a National Lottery scratchcard in 2016 and was proposed to by her now-husband that evening.

Ms Cunliffe, who lives in Blackpool, told the PA news agency: “I was with my daughter at a play centre at the time, and my husband had rung me… and he just said ‘can you get home straight away?’

“It was just panic at first. I made it home and he was already at home, and he passed me this scratchcard, and I said ‘I have no idea what I’m looking at, you need to explain to me in layman’s terms,’ and he said ‘we’ve just won a million pounds’.

“You never in a million years ever think that that would ever happen to you.”

Her husband “turned around on the couch and had a ring in a box” that evening, as he had been planning to propose but wanted to make sure they could afford a wedding.

Ms Cunliffe said winning the lottery was “one of the best things” for her family, as it allowed her to stay home and raise her daughter and “not miss anything”.

Her first major purchase after winning the lottery was a Mulberry handbag and the family’s most significant purchase was a home they refurbished “from top to bottom”.

The money has also allowed her to spend time helping charitable causes.

Lottery winners celebrate the 30th anniversary of the National Lottery (Rankin/PA)

She said it was an “incredible experience to be photographed by one of the most famous British photographers in the industry”.

“It was one of those pinch-me moments. It wasn’t just the photography, it was the hair and make-up as well. I felt like a Victoria’s Secret model walking down the runway on the day.”

Jodie Langston, 27, told the PA news agency that winning £1 million in 2019 was a “shock” and has changed her life.

Ms Langston, based in Birmingham, said: “It changed my life so much. I was only 22 so it allowed me to buy my own home, travel. I got married this year and it helped with that.

“The win has helped all of my family and myself, so I helped them all out. It’s helped with financial difficulties in the last few years and it’s just been amazing.”

She said it was “such a great experience” to take part in the Rankin photoshoot.

Rankin takes a picture of Sarah Cockings, aged 40, from Whitley Bay, who is one of 30 millionaires selected to have their portrait taken by Rankin (Matt Alexander/PA)

“It was something that we never thought we’d do. Like you wouldn’t think you’d ever be able to meet someone like Rankin,” she said.

“It was lovely to interact with everyone and just hear all of their stories as well, and just have that support there, all together with other winners.”

The National Lottery has created more than 7,400 millionaires and paid out more than £95 billion in prizes since the first draw on 19 November 1994.

Rankin said: “I remember when The National Lottery first started and it was intriguing to meet the real winners and hear their stories and experiences.

“They are normal people who have had an extraordinary thing happen to them, transforming their lives. That is what we set out to capture.”