She’s known as the “boot polish artist” who launched her career painting detailed pictures of boots and bush scenes with nothing other than boot polish.
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And her artwork was chosen as the cover illustration for R.M William’s autobiography.
But Dubbo woman Amber Martin’s passion to paint anything rural soon switched to her interest in the military.
The talented 35-year-old mum has been commissioned by the 2Combat Engineers Regiment (2CER) as a war artist for the Australian Army for the past two years.
Amber lives in Dubbo as a civilian war artist and aims to be appointed as an official Australian Army war artist at the end of the year.
If selected she will be deployed to paint on the field during army exercises.
“I’m very passionate about this and I’m truly honoured to do what I do, it means I’m leaving a legacy for future generations,” she said.
“At the Australian War Memorial there are paintings of diggers from the World War I and veterans from World War II and the Vietnam War but you don’t see many paintings from what’s happening overseas now.”
Amber stumbled over the opportunity to become a war artist when she entered an Australian Army photographic competition on Facebook.
Her painting called Covering Fire of soldiers from 7RAR on service in Afghanistan won and was later donated to Legacy and auctioned at the Defence Charity Ball to raise funds.
The Australian Army took notice of her work which led to her commission by 2CER to paint soldiers on various operations across the world.
Amber uses acrylics to paint her artwork from military photographs she receives via email from 2CER.
Each painting takes about two-to-three weeks to complete and is then hung in the regiment’s headquarters. A limited edition of one on Amber’s paintings called Forging Friendships was given to the Afghan National Army as a gift from the Australian Army.
“It spins me out that I get to do this,” she said.
“As far as I know I’m the only female war artist for the army.”
Her work was commended by Lieutenant Colonel John Carey, Commanding Officer of 2CER who said courage, initiative and teamwork is captured in Amber’s paintings.
“Amber’s paintings represent our many achievements due to the sacrifice, professionalism and teamwork of our soldiers,” he said.
“During the last 12 months 2CER has been fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, securing peace in Timor Leste, providing disaster relief in Pakistan and also supporting civil-military operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Amber’s work is magnificent and is appreciated by all ranks.”
Amber who recently moved back to Dubbo is in the process of re-listing in the Army Reserve.
“I’m training to sit a fitness test at the moment, I also have a 10-year-old son called Jacob and he is very artistic too he loves to draw dragons,” she said.
