Tessa Thonett

My husband, Markus, and I have started working in collaboration. He makes the backgrounds to the paintings by carving, scorching, painting and sanding, leaving a coarse and craggy environment, creating depth, texture and context.
I then paint delicately in oils on the primed space that he gives me. I adapt my painting according to the inspiration that I receive from the background. Each painting is unique and not of anyone in particular.
The lack of expression on the faces leaves room for you to imagineand emulate, finding the essence of each of these ethereal paintings.
I am fascinated by faces - all faces - and we both love people, with all their quirks and personalities, but we particularly want to celebrate the timeless human strength of character, creativity and potential.
The touh of gold implies the emerging qualities of our inner value, no matter who we are or what we do - in some cases even where there are apparent flaws. And this is what we hope these Icon Paintings do - celebrate being human, with all our perceived shortcomings.
Loosely inspired by the format of Byzantine icon paintings, but without any religious connotations or messages, we want to celebrate the great variety of human beings, with all their unique...

One year Foundation Course at Farnham Art School, then
3 years at Chelsea School of Art, London
Markus: 4 years Dun Loaghire School of Art, Dublin

2023 Tessa and Markus have held exhibitions in various locations every month of the year so far, in Hastings and St Leonards (it's now Aug)
2023 - Markus and Tessa took on a gallery in St Andrews Mews, Hastings, for 3 months.
We have curated a different exhibition every 2 months, with a great response. They were 'Being Me', 'About Face', 'Minutia' and 'Abstraction'. For the month of September, during Coastal Currents, our work will be on show.
2022, July - Aug, Tessa and Markus held a joint exhibition In Hastings, Bannatyne Hotel, as artists in resident for 2 months.
2022, Markus held another exhibition in Hastings for 2 months
2021, Markus held an exhibition in Hastings
2019, Joint Exhibition, Open Studio, Hampshire
2019, One man show - ArtAVenue, Winchester
2017, One of three artists showing at 'Music and Art Event', Shoreditch, London
2016, Sept - Private individual show at the Kensington Coffe, Kensington Church Street, London
2014, Aug - Private individual show at the Flora Twort Art Gallery, Petersfield
2014, July to Aug - Private joint exhibition, with husband, sculptor Markus Thonett. 'Who We Are' at the Allen Gallery, Alton, Hants.
2010 - Took part in Exhibition in Excel, London
1994- Sao Paulo, SP - Private exhibition...