Lasting tribute: Arabella Dorman’s stunning paintings – including this one of Iraq – were inspired by drawings taken in Sangin and Basra

Interview: Joe Clapson
Pictures: Arabella Dorman

HAUNTING images immortalising the soldiers at war in Afghanistan have been created on canvas by the deft hand of a fearless artist.

Armed with charcoal sticks and sketchbooks, Arabella Dorman joined 2nd Battalion, The Rifles on the highly-kinetic Herrick 10 with the aim of capturing history through her own eyes.

The invitation for the classically-trained portrait artist to take in the sights and sounds of Forward Operating Base Jackson in Sangin came from 2 Rifles’ commanding officer Lt Col Rob Thomson after he had seen her previous work.

“I had painted Maj Gen Richard Sheriff, the commander of British troops in Basra, and he invited me to go on Telic 9 in December 2006,” explained Arabella.

“While in Iraq I moved widely with The Royal Green Jackets – now 2 Rifles – and then Lt Col Rob Thomson made it happen for me to go to Afghanistan.”

But although front-line warfare was not a new concept for the experienced painter, she said that drawing in such a volatile environment is never plain sailing.

“Out in theatre I work mainly from sketchbooks and photographs as everything happens so quickly – it’s not as if you can sit there with your subject for hours,” she said.

“I go out with charcoals and other colours then work the sketches into oil paintings on canvas when I get home.”

Similar to the way Iraq veterans now in Helmand province have found the Taliban a different type of enemy,Arabella was struck by the “hybrid” nature of the war against the insurgency.

“One of the biggest differences I noticed between Iraq and Afghanistan was that Iraq was a much more conventional fight, where our soldiers were engaging with an enemy,” she said.

“What struck me so much in Afghanistan was that they are now having to deal with an unseen, insidious enemy.”

The lethal nature of the unseen foe was spelt out in statistics when 19 Light Brigade returned to the UK after its demanding tour last year – soldiers had faced an unprecedented 1,800 IEDs and 70 Servicemen and women were killed.

Arabella spent three weeks with the riflemen at battlegroup headquarters, shadowing their movements and watching them in both the intense moments before crossing the wire and relaxing during their down time.

“In my paintings from Afghanistan I am trying to show the psychological states of mind of the soldiers,” she said.

“Intense eyes, tense muscles and a sense of isolation are particular features.

“On foot patrol, even with their mates with them, I think the soldiers must feel an element of being on their own. I am trying to focus on the edgy psychological aspect of what’s going on.”

The bold 34-year-old also explained that the vista of hills and the winding Helmand River provided a surreal setting for such a vicious topic.

“It’s crazy that the landscape of Afghanistan is so beautiful,” she said.
“You wake up every day to the birdsong at dawn with a sense of calmness, then at about 0800 the gunfire starts.

“I am very interested in the juxtaposition of the beauty of the country and the tragedy and intensity of the fight there.”

Before flying out to the desert location of Sangin, Arabella had worked on numerous commissions for the Army, including paintings of Basra for The Queen’s Royal Lancers and of Gen Sir Jack Deverell when he was commander of Allied Forces North Europe.

Speaking about her “sitters” at FOB Jackson Arabella, who enhanced her skills in Florence, Italy, was full of praise.

“At first soldiers ask lots of questions about what my purpose is, but once they see my pictures of them, they are very cooperative,” she said.

“The riflemen were a pleasure to draw.”

Arabella is currently working from her numerous sketchbooks at her Chelsea studio to create paintings of varying sizes to be exhibited next year alongside her pieces from Iraq.
One set of outlines she plans to turn into a poignant image is from an Afghan shura, attended by members of the insurgency.

“At one particular shura it was known that a handful of Taliban members were in attendance,” she said.

“I just sketched what I saw and I hope to turn that into a major painting.”

The aim of the London-based artist is to subjectively illustrate the daily experience of soldiers at war and to portray the surroundings in which they tirelessly live and work.

She said: “Artistically I have always been fascinated by the ability of still images to depict history and I wanted to paint something of contemporary significance.

“I have never been so moved and humbled by something I have witnessed as when I was out with 2 Rifles.

“I have to show what the men and women are doing under incredibly tough circumstances.”