A REDDITCH based artist has painted a portrait of a solider to pay tribute to the armed services on the support they provided to the people in Kabul.
The Veterans Foundation in Edinburgh has also managed tracked down the father of the soldier depicted in the painting.
Popular artist Kevin Wills from Oakenshaw has made quite a stir in the past with his portraits of Captain Sir Thomas Moore and several of the England football team.
He said: “I decided to paint the piece because of what the armed forces achieved in Kabul in such a short space of time, they proved to everyone that the British Army can rank themselves among the best in the world.
“They carried out operation pitting with professionalism, courage and with swift execution and being a veteran myself I understand how they achieved it.
“The photo was taken by a journalist at Kabul airport and thought it deserved to be painted because it’s such a poignant image that shows the other side of our soldiers.
“Through the Veterans Foundation in Edinburgh I managed to track down the soldier and his family and have spoken to them personally and they are overjoyed and so proud of their son and of the painting, I will be sending them a framed print for them to treasure for many years to come.
“I’ll always be connected to the armed forces and have many friends still serving now so for me painting armed forces pictures will always be one my passions.”
