from an early age bell showed artistic talents which were developed by lessons from the foremost scottish painter david allan. throughout his life bell put these skills to great use, personally illustrating his many textbooks. in 1809 he went to portsmouth to help treat the casualties from the battle of corunna and there put his artistic abilities to great use. he produced a series of 15 oil paintings to illustrate the detail of the gunshots wounds suffered by the casualties. these paintings, on display in the museum, provide a valuable insight into the nature of early 19c gunshot wounds and their complications.