Tom Gledhill

I predominantly find my inspirations in the study of people. Subtle changes in human expression, mood and character allow me to focus my practice, and inform my techniques and processes. Recently, I have been focusing my practice towards the promotion of localised social groups and charities. For instance, I used my Extended Major Project as a means to promote groups including: Headway Dorset and The Youth Cancer Trust, two organisations based in the Bournemouth and Poole areas. I enjoy experimenting with mixed media and collage although I usually practice with watercolour and Fine Liner pen in my portraiture. I find that through the use of highly detailed areas of pattern and tonal composition, I can deconstruct a mood or atmosphere through the subject themselves. My latest imagery draws on fragmentation as another core source of influence. Recently I have been interested in deconstruction of the facial structure, dissecting areas of interest and character. I collect these studies from a variety of subjects and rebuild these seemingly constraining facial structures into a non-recognisable compositional form.