Tom was born in Southampton, Hampshire in 1982. He attended Winchester School of Art to study Art History in 2001-02 and Royal Holloway to study Music in 2003-06. Since 2015, Tom’s colour pencil artworks have won praise from fans, collectors and audiences across the world. He is a member of the International Guild of Realism (IGoR) and the UK Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS), frequently exhibiting with both organisations. In 2020 he was a finalist in the 15th International Arc Salon, the largest competition in the world dedicated to 21st Century Realism. Tom’s work has been featured in a number of prominent coloured pencil publications, including Colored Pencil Magazine and CP Treasures: Colored Pencil Masterworks from around the Globe.
Tom’s still life drawings sit within the Classical Realism movement, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with colour pencil and blurring the lines between drawing and painting. Displaying a high degree of verisimilitude without veering into clinical photorealism, his carefully planned compositions celebrate the drama of light across forms. Tom uses Derwent Lightfast colour pencils for their unique flexibility, commenting “they strike a wonderful balance between softness and hardness, making them perfect for switching back and forth between blending and fine detail.”
Instagram: @tomstrutton
Website: http://www.tomstrutton.co.uk/
