A DORSET hospice doctor has joined such iconic figures as the Queen, Madonna, Kate Moss and the Rolling Stones in having his portrait taken by celebrity photographer Rankin.

Dr Simon Pennell, who works at Lewis-Manning Hospice in Poole, was invited to pose for the 46-year-old ’s latest project, called Alive: In the Face of Death.

The project and exhibition were inspired by the death of Glasgow-born Rankin’s parents – his mother Anne from lung cancer and father Roy from a heart attack – within three weeks of each other in 2005.

The photographer, who sprang to fame in the Cool Britannia era of the 1990s, has said: “The whole process of them dying really confused me. I didn’t know why I was so ill-prepared for what happened. That was the spark that started the whole project off.”

He has since taken more than 80 pictures of people who know they are dying and those who have survived against the odds, including cancer patients and Sgt Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism in Iraq.

Dr Pennell contacted Rankin after hearing about the project. “I dropped him a note and said it would be amazing if we could get together and do something collaborative.

“He said he would like to meet me and perhaps get me involved. The project is people who have a life-limiting illness and people who cheat death, but he also decided to include people involved in the business of dying.”

Dr Pennell’s photograph was used to illustrate a national newspaper article and he was among the sitters attending the launch of the exhibition. “The atmosphere was so upbeat and positive,” he said.

“One of the girls photographed has already died. I can now see how amazing it must be for her family to see the pictures.

“Rankin let people express themselves and asked how they wanted to be represented.

“Because I am a doctor at Lewis-Manning, my view about hospices is that they should be much more about being alive.

“It’s not just about end of life care. For me it’s about looking after the living.”

Dr Pennell was asked to take a stethescope to his sitting, but declined. “I said in my line of work my tools are looking at people, listening and using my hands.

“He sat me in a chair and asked me to look into the camera. All I said was I didn’t want to look like a doctor.”

l Alive: In the Face of Death is at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool until September 15. Details of how to post your own or a loved one’s stories and pictures can be found on alivexrankin.co.uk