A little about me…

 

   

I originally trained as a doctor and spent 21 years happily working in both General Practice and hospital medicine. I became a professional artist in 2005 and have since sold work worldwide. I work in many mediums, sometimes doing quick pen and ink sketches, sometimes creating more complex, larger works in the studio using acrylic, coloured pencil, pastel, watercolour or mixed media. My choice depends on the effect I want to achieve in any given painting – I enjoy all techniques equally! As one of the few remaining professional illuminators in the UK, gold leaf sometimes makes an appearance in my wildlife work too.

Toni Watts – CV

 

Wildlife Artist 2005 –
Manuscript Illuminator Lincoln Cathedral 2016 –
Artist in Residence Lincoln Cathedral 2015 / 2016

 

Selected Exhibitions:

  • Solo Exhibition Lincoln Cathedral 2016
  • Fine Art Trade Guild – Guild Artists Exhibition 2014
  • Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers 2012, 2013 Mall Galleries, London; catalogue.
  • British Birdwatching Fair 2005 – 2013
  • David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012 Mall Galleries, London and Shalford, Surrey.
  • Lincolnshire Open Studios 2005 – 2014
  • Society of Women Artists 2005 – 2009 Mall Galleries, London; catalogue.

 

Publications

  • ‘How to Paint Wildlife in Acrylic’ in The Art of Painting in Acrylic (Minnesota: Walter Foster Publishing) 2014
  • Wild Animals: Trace Line Art Onto Paper or Canvas, and Color or Paint Your Own Masterpieces (Minnesota: Walter Foster Publishing) 2015
  • ‘Using Acrylic’ in The Art of Painting Animals (Minnesota: Walter Foster Publishing) 2015

 

Awards:

  • Art and Framing Industry award  – Fine Art Trade Guild ‘Best Depiction of the Living World’ 2014
  • Finalist David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012
  • Christopher Parsons Award for Artistic Excellence 2005
  • Best Bird Painting – Wildscape Wildlife Artist of the Year 2004

 

Recent Education, Qualifications:

  • Cortona, Italy 2018 Early Renaissance Egg Tempera with Fred Wessel and Jeremiah Patterson
  • Oil Glazing Workshop with Martin Kinnear 2015
  • ‘Simply Oils’ with Martin Kinnear, April 2014
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts February 2014 The Flemish Technique with David Cranswick.
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts January 2014 The Alchemy of Paint: The Transformation of Earth, Rocks, Roots and Berries into Pigments with David Cranswick.
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts 2013 Art of the Arabesque with Amber Khokar
  • Calligraphy tuition with Janet Smith 2012 – 2013
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts 2012 Advanced Medieval Manuscript Illumination
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts 2011 Medieval Manuscript Illumination
  • Prince’s School of Traditional Arts 2011 Indian Miniature Painting
  • Podere Siliano Alto, Italy 2010 Icon Painting workshop

 

  • Diploma in Traditional Arts, The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, London
  • Open University M.A. Art History with merit 2015
  • Open University 2012 B.A. Hons. (First Class) Humanities with Art History and Classical Studies
  • Royal College of General Practitioners 1988 MRCGP
  • University of Leicester 1984 MBChB