Dorman, Arabella (Oral history)

British civilian war artist with 3rd Division in Iraq, 2006

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1975-2006: family; education including university in Edinburgh and Florence; story of first art commission aged 12; exhibitions while at university; initial preference for landscape painting; travelling in Far East and Africa; apprenticeship with Timothy Brooks; further details of university; discussion of move into portraiture; opinion of politics; aspects of work; details of period working in Oman; interest in Imperial War Museum; background to being invited by Major General Shirref of 3rd Division to go to Iraq; preparations for visit including official status as contemporary conflict artist; details of insurance; support from father; discussion of Iraq War; situation in Basra, late 2006; research undertaken before departure; protective clothing and helmet issued; advice and help received from Gordon Rushmer including need for portable hairdryer. Aspects of period as war artist with 3rd Division in Iraq, 12/2006: learning of army language; perspective as a woman; relationship with soldiers; plans for series on wounded soldiers; requests for portraits since return; Iraqi civilians working with army; details of access allowed. REEL 2 Continues: description of watching the planning of a patrol; flight from RAF Brize Norton to Basra via Qatar; reactions during helicopter journey into Basra; arrival in Basra; initial accommodation; sketches made and atmosphere at RAF Brize Norton; further details of initial accommodation; memories of escort Violet Adams; events on first day including sketches made and previous experience of working at speed; story of first mortar attack; description of Basra Airbase; reactions to being inside base; story of visit to control room including restrictions on work; flight to Shaibah Logistics Base; posting with Queen's Royal Gurkhas; name given to base by soldiers; accommodation; relationship with army chaplain; mortar attacks and drill; description of sunrise in desert; painting made of Dutch grave and bunkers found filled with Iraqi civilian corpses; description of a convoy; story of visit to hospital including arrival of soldiers wounded during ambush of a tank; sketches made of Gurkhas; opinion of professionalism of British Army; discussion of what Dorman was drawn to during trip including reason for refusing a visit into downtown Basra; details of painting made in Basra Palace; details of stay in Basra Palace; description of palace and scenes from it. REEL 3 Continues: sketches made in palace including need to work quickly and keep moving; details of The British Gate painting and story behind it; materials used for sketches; method of work to produce finished painting; reflections on The British Gate including reaction of Major General Shirref on seeing painting The British Gate; problems with painting camouflage; impressionistic nature of work; period in Maysaan with Queen's Royal Lancers; conditions in desert and reactions on arrival; problems with equipment; relationship with soldiers; scenes at Maysaan; story of getting stuck in mud during journey across marshes; setting up of camp at destination; reactions to experience; importance of documenting realities; details of helicopter operations and problems with drawing them; equipment taken to Iraq; importance of note- taking; restrictions placed on sketches; impression of Apache helicopter; lack of interest in machinery; story of first helicopter flight; importance of getting details of kit correct; details of painting made of a AgustaWestland EH101 "Merlin" rear gunner including opinion of Royal Air Force and scenes in helicopter at night. REEL 4 Continues: summary of areas visited; return flight to RAF Brize Norton; inspiration from visit and physical state on return; brief for trip; opinion of army following trip; plans for exhibition of work and future work including discussions of commissions with commanding officers of units visited in Iraq; details of journal kept in Iraq; damage seen in Iraq; memories of Iraqi civilian drawn at Shaibah Logistics Base; female army personnel met; problems with going to toilet in desert; coping with conditions; interest in and relationship with other ranks; advantages over journalists; relationship between officers and other ranks; story of seeing General Richard returning from a patrol; story of troops confiding in her the problems of returning to civilian life; desire to visit Afghanistan and return to Iraq; consideration of relation to term war artist.