Born in North Yorkshire in 1982, Thomas James Butler works with a range of materials and mediums, predominantly painting, collage and more recently sculpture.

He draws inspiration from a variety of cultural reference points and innovators; 20th century painters Robert Rauchenburg and Hans Hoffman are equally as relevant to Butler’s practice as filmmakers and writers Stanley Kubrick and Charles Bukowski.

His evolution into abstract painting has been a natural development, a more personal expression of colour and form painted instinctively. Vibrant hues that are often otherwise incompatible find harmony within his bold compositions, evoking a sense of beauty and joy from what could easily fall into chaos.

In 2023, Butler featured in Infinite Nature; a group exhibition first presented in Oslo, Norway. His paintings for this collection investigate themes of nature through Floriography, presenting his unique take on ‘the language of flowers’ and also include his first exploration into sculpture, created with the artist Christopher Kelly.

Butler’s early work focused on his collage approach, a dynamic and engaging style that focused on 20th century iconography. The blankness of the canvas as important as the materials themselves, imaginative compositions create a direct narrative that draws the viewer into the work.

In 2017 he presented Shooting Bottles; a series of collages and paintings celebrating the halcyon eras of 1940s film and 1960s pop culture. Butler worked directly onto musical scores, with the newly formed images retaining the identifiable charm of his visual signature, and the medium referencing an appreciation of Dadaist assemblage.

Butler lives and works in Yorkshire, sharing a studio with his partner, artist Candie Payne.

All photos taken by Robin Clewely 2024