Military History Reimagined as Collectible Art
Featured Artwork
British Armed Services Cap Badges - Insignia. Combination Image. Painting
British Armed Services Cap Badges World War Two Distinctive cap badges of British Armed Services during World War Two. Historical Significance: Features authentic WW2-era British military cap badges Represents different regiments and service branches...
Shop by collection
Four Ways to Collect the Work
Choose the format first: one-of-a-kind originals, fine art prints, original photography or curated combination images built from multiple military details.
Inside the studio
My World in Real Life
Where emotion meets creation. Short films from the studio, the workbench and the moments between drawing and finished surface.
Swipe or use the arrows to explore
7 films
Limited series
The War Series
Explore Laurence Kirwan’s curated War Series collections, each bringing together original works around a distinct military story, object or visual theme.
Original military artPainted to be experienced at scale.
Art in the room
See the Work Beyond the Product Page
Scale, texture and atmosphere are easier to understand when artwork is seen in context. These room views help collectors imagine how a military painting can sit within contemporary, industrial or traditional interiors.
The detail is everything
From First Mark to Finished Surface
Move the handle across the Morton Salt Girl to travel between the preliminary drawing and the finished painting. It is a direct look at how line, colour and surface build the final work.
Explore original paintings
Drawing
Finished
Drag left or right to compare the evolution of the work.
More transitions
From Drawing to Finished Painting
Explore two more works as the first drawn structure gives way to the finished painted surface.
Drawing
Finished
Drawing
Finished
A personal connection to military history
The Family Story Behind Art Goes to War
Kirwan’s interest in militaria is tied to his own family history. His published account describes relatives who served during World War II in the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Air Force and Civil Defence.
That connection gives the work a clear point of view: military objects are treated not as anonymous props, but as symbols of identity, service and individual stories.
Read the family story
A separate collection
Art Goes to War Merchandise
Wear or carry the identity of the studio without mixing merchandise into the fine-art catalogue. Tees, jackets, hoodies, caps, tote bags and phone cases live here as their own distinct collection. Custom merchandise is made to order and is non-returnable unless defective or damaged.
From the artist
Latest Notes From the Studio & Archive
American Flag Original Acrylic Painting: Unbroken Spirit
Explore Stars & Stripes #2, an original American flag acrylic painting by Laurence Kirwan. Discover the meaning of its tattered edge, the detail in its red, blue, and...
Military Art Prints: Timeless Stories of Service
Explore military art prints inspired by WWII uniforms, medal ribbons and historic photographs. Learn how Laurence Kirwan turns military details into artwork and how to display prints at...
Next Project: More Stars & Stripes - 5 Variations
Why paint the American flag more than once? Laurence Kirwan reflects on familiar national imagery and five variations in his evolving Stars and Stripes painting project.
Victorian Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, Officer's Home Service Helmet.
Examine a Victorian Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment Home Service helmet, including its spike, chinstrap and decorative fittings, with photographs and collector observations.
Major Frederick J. McCoy, US Army Medical Corps, WW2
Learn about Major Frederick J. McCoy's WWII U.S. Army Medical Corps service and later medical work, told through historical details and a personal professional connection.
United States Flag Series
Explore American flag artwork inspired by the Stars and Stripes. Learn about the flag's 13 stripes, its changing star count and Laurence Kirwan's flag painting series.
Graduation: Manchester Medical School and Plastic Surgery Residency.
An old graduation photograph brings back memories of Manchester Medical School, medical training and changing styles. Laurence Kirwan reflects on the person behind the picture.
Current Project: Stars and Stripes
A flag flying near Laurence Kirwan's Norwalk office sparked a new painting. See the source photograph, composition choices and early stages of the Stars and Stripes artwork.
Up and coming projects
Discover the ideas behind Laurence Kirwan's next military helmet paintings, including a Victorian British design and an American counterpart, with notes from the artist.
Naval Officers and Naval Academy Preparatory School Stripers in Newport, Rhode Island.
Why did the U.S. Naval Academy move to Newport during the Civil War? Explore the historical setting and the naval photographs that inspired Laurence Kirwan.
Glengarry Scottish Regimental Cap. First "Garrison or Side-Cap" Painting
What makes a Scottish Glengarry cap distinctive? Explore its folded wool shape, toorie, hackle and badge, and see the features inspiring Laurence Kirwan's artwork.
"Portrait of the Artist" creating a drawing in his studio in Bloomington, New York
What happens when an artist paints another artist? Laurence Kirwan shares the idea behind his portrait, compares two versions, and offers a glimpse of the painting process.
Why Militaria? It's part of the family legacy.
Discover the family memories behind Art Goes to War. Laurence Kirwan explains how relatives' service and historic military objects shaped his interest in collecting and painting.
New Creation: New Zealand Forage, Visor Cap. Painting
See how a New Zealand Police visor cap became a painting. Explore the cap's checkered band, badge and embroidered visor details in this behind-the-scenes artwork story.
Farts and Darts: Visor Embellishment. The story behind them.
What does farts and darts mean on military caps? Explore the nickname and the official terminology for decorative embroidery on peaked officer visors.
ART GOES TO WAR, what does the name suggest?
Why is the project called Art Goes to War? Explore Laurence Kirwan's fascination with military uniforms, badges and design, and how historical objects inspire original artwork.
Royal Army Medical Corps Inter-war Visor Cap of Staff Officer
Explore the distinctive Royal Army Medical Corps officer cap, including its colors, maker label and differences between dress and undress uniform headwear.
New Zealand Police Headwear: Helmets and Caps.
Discover New Zealand Police headwear through historic helmets, peaked caps and modern designs. See how uniform styles changed and explore the insignia and artwork inspired by them.
Cap and Hat Makers "Hatters"
Discover British military cap makers through surviving labels, historical visor caps and Laurence Kirwan's family photographs. Learn how maker details contribute to military collecting.
Sun Helmet Painting, 24th Regiment of Foot. New work in progress.
From pencil sketch to completed artwork, follow Laurence Kirwan's painting of a 24th Regiment of Foot sun helmet and the historic insignia that inspired it.
Home Service Helmets.
Explore the Victorian British Home Service helmet, from its spiked profile and fittings to its military context. See photographs, observations and related helmet artwork.
Glenn Palmer-Smith Review
Read how artist Glenn Palmer-Smith encouraged Laurence Kirwan to paint, and explore his feedback on the work that followed, shared with a personal introduction.
Lt. Colonel O'Day, US Army Air Force Pilot — History of a Crusher Cap
What can an officer's cap tell us about military history? Explore Lt. Col. O'Day's WWII USAAF crusher cap, later uniform changes and the surviving details recorded in this...
Homage to John Heartfield (1891 – 1968).
John Heartfield used photomontage to challenge authoritarianism and propaganda. Explore an Art Goes to War tribute to his legacy and the visual language of political art.