Art Makes Lives Better
11 SEPTEMBER 2023 - 27 SEPTEMBER 2023Notes
Born in 1929, Tom Wanless was educated at Washington Grammar School and then qualified as a teacher at Durham University before completing 2 years national service with the RAEC in Kenya. On his return he studied painting and printmaking at Sunderland College of Art.
He enjoyed a long career working at many levels in art education including appointments as the external examiner for degree courses at a number of universities and colleges. He finished his lecturing career in Leeds as Head of Art at the City of Leeds and Carnegie College, and then in 1976 was appointed Co-ordinator for the Creative Arts at Leeds Polytechnic (Leeds Metropolitan University).
In 1989, he retired to concentrate on his own work as a full time artist. The quality of his work was immediately recognised at the Mall Galleries and was elected as a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Society of British Artists in quick succession. Recent awards include the Cornelissen and Roberson prizes of the ROI, the Charles Pears prize of the RSMA and the Sir William Ramsay School prize of the RBA. His work has also been selected for the final of the Singer / Friedlander Watercolour Competition on 8 occasions and finalist in the Laing Art Competition.
Tom Wanless paintings are in public, private and corporate collections in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America. These include: American Bankers MBNA, Provident Financial plc, The Paintings in Hospitals Group, Leeds City Council and the Brighton Pier Trust. Tom Wanless contemporary paintings have also been reproduced in many art publications including October 2005 International Artist.
In addition to exhibiting often with the ROI., RBA., RSMA., RI., RWS., and the Singer Friedlander Watercolour Competition on eight occasions significant exhibitions include:
The Blake Gallery, York (one-man show) 2008
The Hunter Gallery, Long Melford (shared show) 2007
The Russell Gallery, Putney (shared show) 2005
The Nevill Gallery, Canterbury (shared show) 2003
The Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk (one-man show) 2003
The Chandler Gallery, Leyburn (one-man show) 1999
Scarborough Art Gallery (one-man show) 1996
South Yorkshire Art Gallery, Doncaster (shared show) 1995
Durham Museum and Art Gallery (one-man show) 1994
The Mercer Gallery (one-man show) 1992
The Smith Gallery, Brighouse (one-man show) 1991
Artwork in good condition. Can be sold in frame.