Auriole Prince: Forensic Artist
Job description
I am a fully qualified forensic artist and run the Identification and Reconstruction Department at the National Missing Persons Helpline. I use my artistic skills to try and identify persons who have been found dead with no name, or to find people who have been missing for a long time. The artwork involves updating post mortem photographs on the computer, facial reconstruction from skulls (when remains have been found decomposed), and child age progression for long term missing children.
What GCSEs/ O'Levels or equivalent do you have?
Art, English Lit, Maths, Biology, French, Italian, English Language
What A'Levels or equivalent Post 16 qualifications do you have?
3 A’Levels (including Art)
Which Higher or Further education qualifications do you have?
- BA Hons degree in Illustration and Photography – Kent Institute of Art & Design
- Facial Identification – Police National Training Centre, Durham
- Forensic Facial Imaging – FBI Academy, Quantico,Virginia
- Forensic Imaging Techniques including Child Age Progression – NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Washington DC)
Also, I’m currently doing a part time Medical Art Postgraduate course run by the Medical Artist’s Association.
Job path
After art college I worked as a photographic assistant and freelance illustrator but didn’t feel that was the direction I wanted to go. I then started looking for full time work and while I was looking, volunteered two days a week for the NMPH (National Missing Persons Helpline). I enjoyed the work and got a paid job as a case worker.
I then became more involved in the identification department because of my art background. I never knew forensic artists existed until I started at the NMPH! Eventually I took over the day to day running of the department and even though I’ve been fully trained, I am still learning new things all the time.
What do you love about your job?
The variety and being able to use my artistic skills for a purpose.
How would you describe a typical day?
A typical day is office based, sitting at my computer, cross matching details of missing persons with unidentified persons (alive or dead). I normally have an age progression ongoing, so I try and spend the afternoon doing that. I also have to talk to visitors on a regular basis, for example, police, journalists or potential funders. Occasionally the police will bring a skull for reconstruction, which is more rare but very interesting.