ABSTRACT

The Combat Art Project involved supplying bespoke art kits to members of 40 Commando Royal Marines embarking on their final tour of Afghanistan. The kits allowed members to document and reflect on the experience, and to use it as a vehicle for personal expression, initiating the creation of open, honest and contemplative responses. In so doing, the project provided a tool for the pro-active support of the health of the service personnel. It introduced an activity that has potential to be carried forward and used by individuals to support their well-being in the future. Subsequent exhibitions of the work enabled unparalleled visual perspectives for their partners, children, family members and the wider public, providing a unique insight into the environment and activities experienced during their deployment.