19 October 2005

New Forensic Art Unit

The University of Dundee has established a new unit of Forensic Art, a key initiative which involves collaboration between the areas of anatomy and art.

Forensic art work includes disciplines such as building facial reconstructions, recreating facial appearance from post-mortem images or illustrations of trauma for use in court. The work has widespread use, from human identification purposes, to archaeological investigations, to work for museums and media.

Within the unit is a ground-breaking computer facial reconstruction system which enables the user to "feel" the surface of the skull or face on the computer screen.

The unit is based within Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and will be headed by Dr Caroline Wilkinson, who is attached to the unit of Anatomy and Forensic Anthroplogy in the School of Life Sciences. She is joined in the unit by forensic artist Caroline Needham. Both have been recently recruited from the University of Manchester.

Dr Wilkinson explained the crossover between art and science involved in the new unit.

"You need artistic skills to produce a lot of the work we do, as for instance facial reconstruction requires sculptural skills," said Dr Wilkinson. "There is a lot of detailed drawing work involved as well.

"At the same time, you need a sound knowledge of anatomy and forensic anthropology to ensure that the detail is correct."

The new unit will initially be a practical facility, with hopes to broaden into teaching and research in the future.

For more information contact:

Roddy Isles,
Head of Press
Tel: 01382 344910,
out of hours: 07968298585,
Email: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk