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Graham Tolson with Jan Lobben |
Artist haunted by the ‘terror upon terror’ of modern war
Falklands veteran reveals how painting helps him cope
with conflict trauma
FALKLANDS veteran Graham Tolson revealed this week how he paints to forget the horrors of war.
Mr Tolson, 49, spoke at the launch in Finsbury on Monday of Art and Conflict, an exhibition of paintings raising awareness of psychological injuries associated with military life.
A former section commander with the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Mr Tolson took part in an attack near Port Stanley during the war in the 1980s. Twenty-three men died in the fighting and a third of the battalion was wounded.
“Warfare is not like the film Saving Private Ryan,” he said, “It’s terror upon terror. You are constantly in fear of your life and it stays in mind.”
Soon after he left the forces, Mr Tolson’s mother died and he discovered he was suffering from flashbacks to the fighting, recognised as a symptom of post-traumatic stress.
He said: “The effects are that you want to be isolated all the time and can’t cope with everyday stresses of life.
“I often push my family away and want to be on my own.”
Married with two children, Mr Tolson said that where he once buried himself in his work he now finds refuge from unpleasant memories in his art.
One of his paintings on show, Isolation, depicts a square pond with lilies in the middle and most of the fish in one corner – with one fish on its own.
Veterans aged from 30 to 86, from the Army, Royal Navy, RAF, Merchant Navy and the Reserves, have contributed work to the exhibition. All are receiving support and treatment from Tyrwhitt House in Surrey, one of three treatment centres managed by Combat Stress.
The charity has 3,800 ex-servicemen and women in its care, including 222 from the Iraq conflict and 37 from Afghanistan.
The youngest veteran is 20. Many are suffering from chronic conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Trauma art therapist Jan Lobben, who works with veterans at Tyrwhitt House, said: “It is unusual for art therapy images to be exhibited, as they form part of treatment, but veterans are keen to highlight the issues expressed within their work so it might help others.
“The content of the imagery gives the viewer a unique insight into the psychological consequences of trauma through military service.”
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