His work has its roots in traditional craft illustration and fine art, drawing influences from such great practitioners as Egon Schiele, Alfred Sisley, Arthur Rackham, Maurice Sendak, Ronald Searle, Ralph Steadman and The Preraphaelites. These diverse sources, coupled with his own very contemporary flashes of creativity and originality have led to the development of something of a unique artistic world: Grotesque and hideous human beings cohabitate with innocent, fresh-faced children, confused caterpillars and cross-dressing crocodiles; Fairytales collide with sattire and social commentary. His characters and environments delight in their own weirdness, celebrating everything that is bizarre, subversive, freakish and different, whilst retaining a very commercial quality and always striving to find the beauty within its dark subject-matter. He has a particular fondness for children's book illustration because, in his own words 'the original versions of fairytales are really dark and violent and sexy.'
When not painting or drawing things, which isn't often, Thomas enjoys loud
rock & roll music, visits to English Heritage sites, racket sports, moderately-priced
restaurants and pubs which have Hoegaarden beer on draft and comfy sofas.
He was born in the fine Yorkshire town of Huddersfield but currently resides
in nearby Rotherham and is quite the most talented and handsome artist in
the world, according to
his
mother.
| |
||
|
|
|
|
| |
||
|
|
||
| |
||
| |
||
| |
||
| |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
| |
||