About Arabella Dorman

Arabella Dorman is an award-winning, internationally renowned artist and one of Britain’s leading portrait painters. Dorman has painted members of the Royal family, senior military personnel and other high profile individuals.

As an officially accredited British war artist, Dorman has worked across the Middle-East since 2006. She has been embedded with the British Army in Iraq (2006) and Afghanistan (2009 - 2013). Her humanitarian work has taken her to Gaza, Palestine & Israel (2017) Lebanon, Syria (2018) and most recently, Ukraine (2023). Dorman's work explores the realities of modern conflict, its immediate impacts and long-term consequences, and the light that can be born out of the darkness of war.

Dorman is an expedition artist. Her work has taken her across deserts and mountains in pursuit of the vanishing world, revealed and eroded by ice and sand. Accompanied by explorers Rosie Stancer & Pom Oliver, Dorman recently walked across the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, sleeping under the stars, living and travelling with the Bedouin and their camels. The three women are currently working towards a further expedition across Saudi Arabia in 2024.

Dorman enjoys a prominent reputation as a public speaker and fundraiser. She has been listed in BBC’s Top 100 Women and Salt Magazine’s 100 Most Inspiring Women, and was awarded winner of the Global Mosaic Award, and Oman Masterpiece 2021. Over the past two decades, Dorman’s paintings and humanitarian work have been profiled across international and national media; television, radio and print, including The New York Times, BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, Radio 4, BBC World Service, and featured on the front cover of The Times, The Guardian and The Sunday Times Magazine.

Winner of the Global Mosaic Award, and shortlisted for the Arts & Christianity Awards, Dorman’s installations Flight and Suspended were globally acclaimed in raising awareness about the forced displacement of people. Suspended premiered in St James’s Church Piccadilly in 2019,  and subsequently toured the UK, hanging in Canterbury cathedral, Salisbury, Leicester cathedral (2017/18), Chrsities and other venues across London.

Dorman is an Ambassador to Beyond Conflict and Afghanaid and a member of the Ladies Guild of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital. She is married to Dominic Elliot, and with their two children, divides her time between London and Dorset.

Testimonials:

“Arabella is without doubt the most incredible portrait painter. She sees people in a way few do, with the most extraordinary talent which translates the vision onto canvas; the effect is truly stunning.” Sarah Jane Shirreff

“What an amazing talk you did today.  I’ve done a few of these gallery visits now and I can honestly say that yours was by far the most profound and everyone left feeling utterly moved, inspired, and wanting to help.” Anna Leaver

“Aside from your prodigious talent as a portrait painter, I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room after watching the incredibly moving video of the courageous work you produced when you were in Iraq and Afghanistan. I left with an even greater appreciation and understanding of the sacrifice these men and women give by going to war and how the traumas they experienced shape their lives upon their return, as rendered so empathetically through your portraiture. You have played a key role in reshaping the public opinion on these horrible campaigns by helping people to see the human side of it.” Amanda Lambert

“Thank you  for last night's moving and very inspiring talk. I think many of us were emotional about the things you said. You spoke so well about the need for all of us to connect to the stories of those on the other side of the world and put ourselves in their position. As someone who is of Indian-origin, African-born and who was raised in the UK, this resonated deeply. As you said, the plight of these refugees could have been the fate of any one of us.” - Edna Fernandes, Co-founder of Beyond Conflict

"Its been very humbling to watch people engage with your piece – and there have been many tears. It is a privilege to have your work in our Cathedral to engage the public in such a strong way." - Revd Canon Karen Rooms, Leicester Cathedral

Selected Commissions and Collections:

Professor Neena Modi, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

UGLE Tercentenary Celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall

Pro Grand Master of United Grand Lodge of England

H.R.H Elizabeth II Presenting New Standards - Royal Tanks Regiment

H.R.H Prince Michael of Kent

General Sir Richard Shirreff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

General Sir Jack Deverell, Commander of Allied Forces North Europe

Dundas Castle

Kirtling Castle

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

The King’s Royal Hussars

Honourable Artillery Company

The United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons’ Hall

Princess to the Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates

The Queen's Royal Lancers

The 2nd Battalion The Rifles

Aegis, Boardroom Collection

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

The Honorary Colonel of The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers

The Kennel Club

Leicestershire County Council Artworks Collection

Lieutenant Commander MRL. Hayes, DOS, Knight of St John

High Sheriff of West Sussex & Director of Pearsons PLC

High Sheriff of Hampshire

Sir Michael Morland, Retired Judge of the High Court, England & Wales

The Museum of Muscat, Oman Royal Collection, Oman

Chief Executive, WHSmith

Smith & Williamson, Boardroom Collection