Tom
Butler creates his showstopping collages using a whole range of materials; in
his imaginative hands a section of a crossword puzzle may become a block of
flats, a wine bottle, or a church spire, and this unique approach adds
intrigue, resonance and a touch of humour to every scene.
In 2004,
Tom and his wife took a holiday in the South of France and visited a
beautiful town called Uzès. He was mesmerised by the light, colour and
textures - the bright awnings and parasols amongst weathered stone buildings,
shuttered facades and crumbling masonry and 'les publicités anciennes' -
huge, faded adverts from bygone days that used to be hand painted onto the
sides of buildings.
Tom says: "Maybe this is where my
attraction to having text within a painting began.” Over the years travel has
continued to be a strong influence on him, from Paris (where his wife is
from) to New York, Havana and of course Venice. He loves to travel and
discover new places and has recently been inspired on the Cornish
coast.
Tom excelled at university and achieved a 1st class
honours degree in General Illustration. His knowledge and love of art is wide
ranging. "I really appreciate the use of colour and light by some of the
Impressionist painters, namely Monet and Cezanne. I have studied the work of
Singer Sargent, Kandinsky and the 1930's poster artist and typographer, A.M
Cassandre.
During my degree I was inspired by the talents
of Norman Rockwell and cartoonist Steadman. More recently I have been struck
by the work of contemporary artists such as Luke Martineau, Mike Bernard, and
Andrew Hood to name but a few. Anybody that can capture the essence of a
subject matter with expression and vigour is an inspiration."
