Drawing as research: Correlating skills and practices with surgical training

Abstract There are highly creative and meticulous elements to both fine art drawing and surgical practices, especially with regard to close observation, use of tools and interaction with materials. Both artists and surgeons have a dynamic, physical interaction with surfaces, as well as an ability to review and select key features from complex structures. Building on my own drawing practice and observations of surgeons' work I have been able to develop a method for comparing and evaluating drawings. Analysing series of images made by students at Kings College Dental Institute, London, I correlated their data from the HapTEL learning system which was used to practice drilling and removing caries from a virtual tooth, and found evidence of a link between drawing aptitudes and a particular surgical skills. My work supports evidence of positive application of arts practices, with the possibility of building future work incorporating drawing and surgical training.