War through eyes of a soldier and artist

Members of the Armed Forces, veterans and reservists are all invited to this Sunday's special viewing of thought-provoking art inspired by the Afghanistan war.

Called ‘Drawn to Danger: Artists in conflict’, the collection features artists who have witnessed conflict at first hand and experienced the reality of modern warfare.

Combining portraits, landscapes and scenes of day-to-day life with hard hitting images, the exhibition conveys the energy and edginess of soldiers performing their duties against the beauty of Afghanistan landscape. It is the first time this group of paintings have been brought together

The exhibition is on display at Snibston Discovery Museum until June but on Sunday, 27th May, military personnel will receive a discount.

Everyone visiting the exhibition on 27th can also take part in a free war art workshop led by artist and ex Royal Anglian Doug Farthing - children's art classes are also being held. The special admission fee for the day also includes admission to Snibston's indoor and outdoor displays and galleries.

Arabella Dorman, one of the contributing artists, said: Our soldiers are still ordinary men and women doing extraordinary work under extraordinary circumstances. It is easy to let modern statistics obscure the face of war and the reality on the ground. What I try to depict is the experience of the soldier, the poetry and pathos behind the front line and the humbling truth behind the front pages.”

Doug Farthing MBE added: I am inspired by all that I see, in particular the beauty within hardship; I record war and the effects of war in art. The landscape, people, equipment and soldiers, the emotions and the reality of life. Soldiers find themselves in a testing and exciting environment. I find it rewarding to draw the viewer into the situation, young men and women from both sides - the armies and civilian populations. I feel great pleasure when, in my work, someone recognises a moment they have experienced in their own life.”

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for adults and communities, said: "Servicemen and women risk their lives for our country, fighting in conflicts around the globe, and we are keen to support our troops.

"All those involved in this inspiring exhibition believe that it is incredibly important for young people and families to also be able to view these works of art and gain a deeper, and maybe different, understanding to what they see and read about Afghanistan in our newspapers and on television.”

The artists involved in Drawn to Danger are Matthew Cook , Jules George, Arabella Dorman, Steve Pratt and Doug Farthing MBE. It is the first time this group of paintings have been brought together in one exhibition to present a challenging and thought provoking interpretation of war.

The paintings and drawings displayed all aim to increase understanding of what is happening in Afghanistan today.

To find out more about Drawn to Danger, please call Snibston on 01530 278444, visit www.snibston.com or email snibston@leics.gov.uk .

The exhibition continues until Sunday, 10th June.

Discounted entry price is available on Sunday, 27th May with a valid Armed Forces ID.

The war art workshop runs from 1pm until 3pm, and will involve artist Dougie Farthing talking about his experiences as a soldier and war artist, followed by a demonstration of how he works.

There are two art activities for children sessions - one from 11am until 12.30pm, and a second from 1.30pm until 3pm. Using Drawn to Danger and other pieces of art for inspiration, youngsters can discover how war artists make their work, as well as create their own artwork to take home.