The Ministry of Defence first sent official War Artists to the front line to record their impressions of war in the First World War, and has been doing so ever since. In 2013 the Royal Marines and a group of artists ran a unique project where the soldiers themselves took on a similar artistic role. 500 members of 40 Commando, Royal Marines light infantry unit were issued with a specially designed camouflage ‘Combat art kit’ for their final tour in Afghanistan. The project ended with an exhibition in Taunton. Photographs courtesy of LA (Phot) Rhys O’Leary Art kit loaned by Combat Art Project (Art Kits Ltd)