Tom Coates

Tom Coates PPNEAC PPPS PPRBA RP HonRWA RWS PPSEA OAS APF PatronMAS passed away on 20 July 2023. Read our tribute from his fellow NEAC Members.

ARTIST STATEMENT

As described by his close friend and associate, David Wolfers of the New Grafton Gallery, “Tom paints with a sense of urgency and has a natural ability to express what he sees on canvas. He is a prolific painter for whom technique is second nature.” Tom emphasised the use of good draughtsmanship, he always had a sketchbook and his specially designed pochard box to hand for his oils, wherever he may be.

METHOD OF WORKING

Tom used all materials and worked instinctively with whatever he felt would produce the best results for the image that he was working on. He used all kinds of brushes and tools, and sometimes worked with his fingers to literally ‘draw with paint’. Tom's library of old sketchbooks acted as a constant point of reference and he always drew from life. Using these quick, loose images he began marking out a larger image once in the studio. He didn't believe that photographs could capture a real moment and as a result he did not use them to remind him of a subject. All his preliminary sketches and memories were real enough and they represented him as the artist, capturing the moment.

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

d. 2023

1961-64 Won scholarship to RA Schools
1956-59 Bournville College of Art
1959-61 Birmingham College of Art

b. 1941

OTHER SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS

Pastel Society

Royal Society of British Artists

Royal Society of Portrait Painters

Royal Watercolour Society

Royal West of England Academy

SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS & PRIZES

2007 Ondaatje Gold Medal Prize, RP
2003 Minto Award, NEAC
2000 Prince of Wales Drawing Award, RP
1990 Ministry of Defence, Commission to paint the Ceremonial Procession for the Queen Mother’s 90th Birthday
1990 Drawing of Professor Crick OM, HM Queen’s Collection, Windsor Library
1988 Singer Friedlander & Sunday Times First Watercolour Prize
1987 Painter Stainers Prize, NEAC Critics’ Prize
1984 Gold Medal d’honneur, French Pastel Society
1984 De lazo Medal Winner, RBA