Army veteran artist appeals to families to come forward for Afghanistan memorial portraits

A British Army veteran and artist who has painted portraits of each and every member of the British Armed Forces who died in Afghanistan has urged families of the war dead to get in touch.

In 2021, Kevin Wills, who served with the Royal Logistic Corps, began the portraits of all 457 who died serving in Afghanistan and has now finished the paintings.

But he is trying to find the last family members to send the paintings to.

• Afghanistan: Veteran painting portraits of all British personnel who died in conflict
• Sandhurst in the sand: What is left of UK-built Afghan army officer training complex?
• Doctors said I was dead: Afghanistan veteran tells new podcast how he cheated death

"There's a crowdfunding page that was set up by another veteran to pay for all the portraits," Mr Wills told BFBS Radio.

"Most of them have all gone out, so I think I've got about 140 yet to be framed up and to get sent to the respected families but it's all due to funding. 

"As soon as the funds come in, I'm able to pay for the frames and the delivery costs.

"I think there's just under 100 portraits that are unclaimed yet, or the family haven't got back to me with an address," he said.

"I can send the portrait on as soon as I can get that framed up and everything. 

"You can see everything on my website as well, which another veteran kindly set up for me."

The website, www.thefallenofafghanistan.co.uk, shows the portraits that are yet to be claimed.

Mr Wills also told BFBS the feedback he has received from doing the paintings has been "really good", as well as being "emotional for the families" and himself.

"It's indescribable, the emotions," he said.

"When I've been speaking to the families, they're obviously overjoyed that people are still thinking about them at the end of the day.

"That was my main objective of the project, to help everyone remember all of our fallen friends and soldiers."