Contemporary War Paintings - Modern War Art by UK Artist
The Human Consequences of War in Paint
These contemporary war paintings explore the emotional impact of conflict on the individuals involved and their families. My war art uses abstraction and symbolism to express the deep emotional consequences of war.
The Somme
The Battle of the Somme began on 1st July 1916. It petered out in November of that year. Over one million men were killed or wounded. No ground was won or lost, no advantage gained by either side. This painting is my response to one of the most devastating battles of the Great War
How did war affect me and why do I paint it?
I was born at the close of the Second World War. Both my parents had served in the Royal Air Force and my father was still serving. We were the victors and, as a child, I did not question the idea that war was glorious. I grew up thrilled by the wonderful sounds of Spitfires, Lancasters and other military aircraft. My country had been victorious in two world wars; how could I, as a boy, not believe that war was wonderful?
That changed in 1986 when I visited Flanders the site of so many battles of The Great War, including The Somme. I went for no particular reason other than to satisfy my curiosity. I returned with a strong sense of sadness, although I did not realise then that the visit had changed my whole outlook on war. That came later.
Great War Painting - the war begins
Events leading up to the war were predictable logical and stoppable. Fear and jealousy prevailed and the curtain was drawn back on destruction to come.
We spent around four days looking at the monuments, cemeteries and old trenches. My strongest memory from many is the rows upon rows of gravestones all with the same engraving apart from the name and sometimes the age. Those young men were all killed on 1st July 1916 the first day of the battle of the Somme. Just a few yards away was another cemetery with similar ensciptions except for the date which was 2nd July.
Thousands of men were slaughtered each day until it paused in November of that year; the result was a win of a few yards of bloody mud.
The Menin Road
The Menin Road was fought over repeatedly because it lay a few feet higher than the surrounding fields giving the troops who held it the advantage of higher ground. It changed hands frequently during the battles. I used the same design for these three contemporary war paintings, experimenting with colour and its absence to see how each version changed the feeling of the work.
As I grew older I understood that I had changed my outlook on war, any war. In particular I detest the futile losses of that so called Great War and I want to say so in the best way I know how - through my paintings. That is what I am doing now.
The contemporary war paintings below are about The Great War (World War One). The series is not finished I do not know how many more paintings will emerge.
And war proceeds
Flanders was one of the great killing fields. Today it is serene and beautiful but during the Great War it was a place of death and destruction. This abstract war painting depicts a young man's journey through Flanders to serve and likely die as a soldier - World War One - Flanders a soldier's journey
The Ghosts of War
We know the emotions of war such as loss, terror and longing - raw at first, they may fade, but will never leave us.
Daddy
This World War One painting is for all those children whose fathers went to war and never came home. For them, a father was a name on a monument. Can you see the small child in the bottom left? - War Monuments - Daddy
Poppies
Beautiful red poppies appear in thousands each spring in Flanders and disappear soon afterwards, just like the soldiers. No wonder it has become the British symbol of remembrance. This painting connects a soldier's helmet to the poppy. Click to see it in full - First World War Painting - Poppies
Aftermath
The horrors of battle haunted soldiers awake and asleep. Some refused to fight again. They were shot by their own side.
Today we recognise the effects of war on a combatant’s mind and call it post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During the Great War it was called shell shock, but men who could no longer fight could still be condemned as cowards. Now we treat them in hospitals; then some were shot by their own comrades. Some progress for mankind. - World War One - Aftermath
Trenches
Where soldiers lived, fought and died.
The human cost of war
These paintings are about the soldiers' final resting places.
Tommies
German troops christened the British troops Tommies. It was a respectful even a fond title for their enemy. They killed many thousands (as the British did to Fritz) and they are still in neat rows in Flanders fields. The name remains and is accepted proudly by the British Army.
Danger Tree
Just one tree remained standing after the battles in Flanders during The Great War. It survived somehow. The men looked upon it with awe and a certain dread, it seemed to mock them
Death
Stark and chilling were the trenches and expectations of the soldiers. Perhaps they could find shelter and maybe warmth but the expectation of death was a constant companion
And war ends
Soldiers are still dying clearing ordnance - The Somme 1919
The Great War ended at 1100 hrs on 11th. November 1918. Surviving soldiers came home ill equipped to handle "normal" life. Twenty years later those same soldiers were told to do it all again - Germans and the Allies.
Lest We Forget
This series of world war one paintings has been exhibited in part at Churches to help commemorate Remembrance Week and at the Dialogue with Death Exhibition in London. A show was held at The Mall Gallery in London and the American Watercolor Society included one in their annual exhibition.
The emotion that powered me to make these paintings is in all my original abstract paintings and you can view them here. One other series in particular may interest you - pollution of the planet - which followed a realisation of the damage being done whilst working in beautiful Arizona.
Click the link above to learn more about this artist. Read about how I approach my work and the tools I use. Discuss where I find my inspiration and more.
Are you in the area? Christchurch, Dorset, UK that is. If you are then call me on 07941562 to arrange a visit. You will be able to see a piece for real that interests you perhaps as well as other works. It is an opportunity to talk with an artist and learn how I address the process. Click the link above for a taster.
Take a look at my blog anything about art
You will find some interesting posts that I've written during my journey and please add any comments or blog post as you wish. It is good to share valuable insights and yours would be very welcome
And see some of my recent paintings
I like to add new work to this page.