THE ARTIST

Brian Montgomery Toms was born in Cambridge and has drawn and painted from a very early age. With no formal training, he has taught himself in all mediums and is happy to execute works in oils, acrylics and watercolours. He also works in charcoal, pencil and pen and ink. He mainly focuses on portraiture but is adept at landscapes, animale, architectural and caricatures.

'Monty' was employed in the advertising and print industries as an Illustrator and Graphic Designer, working in Portsmouth, London and Spain, In 1992 he took the decision to leave the commercial aspects of art & design to concentrate on Fine Art.

The artist has exhibited in galleries in London, Devon and Hampshire. He has won several awards for his work including the Racal Award for Best Painting at the BFAE, Best Painting

at the Plymouth City Open Exhibition and Best Painting at the  Hants Professional and Amateurs Open Exhibition. He has executed commissions for murals and paintings throughout

the UK and Europe and has several clients who return for new commissions.

He is a past President of the Gosport Art Society and has also given lessons and demonstrations to several Art Societies. He has held three very successful solo exhibitions during the last decade his most recent during 2010, in Chichester. He holds many artists in admiration, and for inspiration, among whom are N.C. Wyeth, John Singer Sargent, and Arthur Rackham.

Monty is open to commissions and will paint any subject, from life, or photographs. He also undertakes minor restoration work and signwriting, at reasonable costs. The artist also presents informal talks on the life and works of Norman Rockwell, the much loved US illustrator. Having moved his studio to Runcton, near Chichester, Monty, whilst working, is always happy to receive visitors.

Away from his easel, Monty enjoys model making, films, poetry,  studying art history, the music of Al Bowlly, writing and the West Sussex countryside.