Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier University Conference 26th August 

 

This August I was invited to join a discussion at the Edinburgh Napier University conference on the Armed forces in society. My knowledge area is naturally the practical and cultural aspects of painting military art which I paint in peace time and on operations. Edinburgh Napier is a former polytechnic built from the remains of a Military hospital that treated officers in Shell Shock during the first World War. The Hospital is famous for the place where the war poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen met. They very much reinforced each other’s work and created a version of the Wipers Times together. There is now a small museum to their work and their time at the Hospital. So it is quite fitting that this Conference should happen there. 

Many of the lectures were fascinating, especially the one on the Scottish Armed Forces by Professor Sir Hew Strachan. The attendance form the British Army was disappointing. But there were evening concerts that were absolutely wonderful and should have been seen and heard by many more people. Members of the Kosovan Army’s Band created by Anglo Kosovan friendship after the crisis in 1999, were special guests and made an impressive contribution. 

 

I exhibited many of my military and civilian works during the Conference and there was lots of interest in my work. I gave a suitably explosive short speech about the creativity of all great leaders as well as the artists in war time, and the uses of military art to the army, which I hope was at least entertaining. 

The University is planning to buy my Steps to the Target work that includes a small girl watching soldiers set up at gun position. 

I recommend going to see the little War Poet Museum at Edinburgh Napier Uni. It is open to the public. 

 

The painting above is 7 SCOTS on a vehicle Patrol near Basra Airport.