Arabella Dorman

Arabella Dorman is an award winning contemporary British artist, best known for her powerful, emotionally charged works that explore themes of conflict, displacement, faith and human resilience.

Born in the United Kingdom, Arabella has built an international reputation for blending traditional artistic techniques with deeply human subject matter drawn from real-world experiences. For over two decades, Arabella Dorman has worked as an officially accredited British war artist in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has also undertaken humanitarian missions to document the lives of people affected by conflict in Lesvos, Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and most recently, Ukraine.

Arabella has established a strong reputation as a public speaker and fundraiser. She has been named in the BBC’s Top 100 Women and Salt Magazine’s 100 Most Inspiring Women. Her awards include the Global Mosaic Award (2019) and the Oman Masterpiece (2021). and she was shortlisted for the Arts & Christianity Award in 2020. Her work has been featured widely across international and national media, 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.

Arabella works from studios in Dorset and London. She serves on the board of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group and is an ambassador for Afghanaid and Beyond Conflict.

In Detail

Dorman initially trained as a portrait painter, developing a strong foundation in figurative art. Early in her career, she gained recognition for her ability to capture personality and emotion with striking realism. However, her artistic direction shifted significantly as she began traveling to regions affected by war and crisis, including parts of the Middle East. These experiences had a profound impact on her work, moving her away from conventional portraiture toward more conceptual and immersive forms of expression.

One of her most notable bodies of work emerged from time spent in refugee camps, where she witnessed firsthand the effects of displacement. Rather than simply depicting these experiences, Dorman began incorporating found materials—such as clothing and personal belongings left behind by refugees—into her installations. This approach gave her art a tangible, physical connection to the people and stories behind global crises, making her work both visually striking and deeply meaningful.

A defining moment in her career came with large-scale installations that transformed entire spaces into evocative environments. These works often blur the line between art and activism, encouraging viewers to confront uncomfortable realities about war, migration, and humanitarian issues. Her art has been exhibited in prominent venues across the UK, attracting attention for both its aesthetic impact and its ethical message.

Dorman’s style combines classical influences with contemporary techniques. While her background in painting remains evident in her use of light, texture, and composition, her later works expand into sculpture and installation art. This evolution reflects her desire to engage audiences more directly, creating experiences that go beyond passive viewing.

Throughout her career, Arabella Dorman has remained committed to using art as a form of witness and storytelling. Her work challenges audiences to see beyond headlines and statistics, focusing instead on the individual lives affected by global events. By merging artistic skill with social awareness, she has established herself as a distinctive and thought-provoking voice in modern art.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

·       Great Faith: Stories of Sacrifice and Contribution (2025 - 2026) 

  • Premiered at House of Lords

  • Later shown at the House of Commons, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and Windsor Castle

·       Ukraine: Past to Future, Milton Keynes (2024) 

·       Child of War, Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, London (2024) 

·       Suspended (2017–2020)

  • Premiered at St James’s Piccadilly, London (2017)

  • Later shown at Canterbury Cathedral, Leicester Cathedral, and Christie’s

·       Flight (2015–2016), St James’s Piccadilly, London 

·       Before the Dawn – Afghanistan (2014), London

·       Frontline – Images from Iraq (2009), London

Other Solo Exhibitions (selected venues)

·       Imperial War Museum, London (2010) 

·       Westminster Abbey, London (2012) 

·       La Galleria, Pall Mall, London (2014) 

·       Canterbury Cathedral (2018) 

·       Leicester Cathedral (2018) 

·       Christie’s, London (2011; 2020) 

·       Bonhams, London (2012) 

·       Frost & Reed Gallery, London (2009) 

·       Mall Galleries, London (1998–2006) 

·       Nile Art Gallery, Cairo (2004) 

·       Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat (2004) 

·       Cork Street Galleries (1998)

Selected Commissions and Collections:

National Army Museum, London

Museum of Muscat, Oman

Imperial War Museum, London

UGLE Tercentenary Celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall, London

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

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

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

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

Public Speaking

Arabella is a prominent public speaker, addressing a wide variety of audiences across the country, at corporate and fundraising events as well as schools, universities and private members clubs. Arabella tailors her talks to suit her audience, drawing from her wealth of experience working as a contemporary war artist since 2006. Showing illustrations of her work, Arabella explores the human face of conflict, courage, leadership and hope as she takes us on her search for light in the darkest corners of existence.

Public Speaking Tours & Venues

Inaugural Symposium, Order of St George, 2024

Ukrianian Welcome Centre, London

Canterbury cathedral

British Embassy Paris

Christies, London

Freemason Hall, Covent Garden

St James’s Piccadilly

Leicester cathedral

Diocese of Rochester Annual Archdeaconry Day

The National Archdeacons Conference

Royal School of Ballet

National Army Museum

Chelsea Arts Club

Inaugural Symposium, Order of St Goeorge

Canterbury cathedral

British Embassy Paris

Christies, London

Freemason Hall, Covent Garden

St James’s Piccadilly

Leicester cathedral

Diocese of Rochester Annual Archdeaconry Day

The National Archdeacons Conference

Royal School of Ballet

National Army Museum

Chelsea Arts Club

Cumberland Lodge, Windsor

Bank of America, Merrill Lynch

National Liberal Club, London

The Rifles Museum, Winchester

Imperial War Museum

La Galleria Pall Mall

The Balfour Project Foundation

Thomas’s London Day Schools

Benenden School

St Mary’s School Calne

Francis Holland School