Forensic Facial Reconstruction

I studied forensic facial reconstruction sculpture in 2014, 2016 and 2018 under Karen T. Taylor, a leading expert in the USA. The training was provided at the Forensic Anthropology Centre at Texas State University, and involved learning how to recreate a facial approximation of a person in life from a skull. This required intense study of facial anatomy which is also important to the practice of portrait sculpting. The skills that I developed during this highly specialised  training are used in the areas of forensic crime and historical cases. I currently hold the position of Forensic Sculptor at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

3D printed skull / Forensic facial reconstruction (2014)

3D printed skull with tissue depth markers and prosthetic eyes / Forensic facial reconstruction (2016)

3D printed skull with tissue depth markers / Forensic facial reconstruction (2018)

Victorian Police Missing Person: Forensic facial reconstruction (2022) Clay

British Museum Child Mummy (2023) 3D printed resin skull and Forensic facial reconstruction in clay with painted finish

Ancient Italian (2023) 3D printed resin skull and forensic facial reconstruction with painted bronze finish

Grafton Mummy (2024) 3D printed resin forensic facial reconstruction with painted bronze finish

The 'Meritamun' Project

In 2016, I completed a facial reconstruction sculpture of an ancient Egyptian mummy for the University of Melbourne.  The completed reconstruction, along with a 3D print of the skull and the actual ancient mummified head, are on permanent display in the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology at the University of Melbourne.

3D printed skull with tissue depth markers and prosthetic eyes / Forensic facial reconstruction (2016)

Finished sculpture (Photos: Paul Burston)