WHY I FOUNDED THIS COLLECTIVE

The Military Arts Collective was born from a belief that art has the power to preserve stories, strengthen identity and build community.

During my service in the British Army, I was fortunate to be involved with the Army Arts Society, a community that celebrated the creativity of serving personnel and veterans. I also had the privilege of championing the Operational Art Pack, distributed on Operation HERRICK 18 to encourage soldiers to capture their experiences through drawing, painting and creative expression.

Alongside my role at Headquarters, I wrote about the project and worked to inspire others to document their service through art, believing that creativity could become another way of recording military life and preserving its stories.

Sadly, the Army Arts Society is no longer active, and over time I began to realise that there was no longer a dedicated space bringing together military artists, their work and the wider community who value it.

After leaving the Army through injury, life moved quickly. Becoming a mother, navigating the challenges of a premature first-born, supporting our family farm and building a new career left little opportunity to reflect on my own transition from military service. As my children grow older, I find myself rediscovering my identity.

Attempts to return to a conventional desk-based career were cut short by my injury, and I reached what I now think of as my own "Condor moment"—a chance to stop, reassess and ask where my strengths, experience and passions truly lie.

The answer is always the same:

Culture, Creativity and Community.

Looking back, some of the most rewarding moments of my Army career were not only creating my own artwork, but encouraging others to tell their stories through theirs. Collecting, curating and sharing soldiers' artwork showed me how creativity connects people across generations, cap badges, ranks and experiences. It preserves memories, sparks conversations and creates a lasting legacy.

The Military Arts Collective is my way of rekindling that spirit. My vision is to create a welcoming home for serving personnel, veterans, military families and artists inspired by military life—a place to showcase work, share stories, encourage new talent, connect with collectors and celebrate the rich artistic heritage of our Armed Forces.

This is only the beginning.

If this vision resonates with you, whether you're an artist, collector, veteran, serving member of the Armed Forces or simply someone who believes in the power of art to tell our stories, I'd love you to be part of this journey.

Together, we can shape the Military Arts Collective into the thriving community it has the potential to become.

Original Blog