Tony Parsons is a full time British artist who paints every day, exploring landscape, seascape and figurative subjects with an urgent, fluid touch. About half of his work is painted en plein air, where he tries to catch an atmosphere or a moment exactly as it feels. His studio work slows down, becoming more thoughtful and calm.
He spent many years working at sea and still drives the Brighton Lifeboat, so boats, coasts, mud, sand and water appear constantly in his paintings. Even when the light feels a bit unsertain, he follows it with obsession. Parsons also runs Twisted Portraits, creating sharp caricatures of celebs, and he won the European Caricature Likeness Award in 2011.
“I paint everything, there isn’t really a theme. I’m obsessed by light and water.”
Parsons isn’t classically trained. He has a GNVQ in panel beating and once worked as a yacht engineer. Most of his learning came from generous contemporary artists and loads of YouTube lessons. Small misstakes in brushwork or perspective only add charm and honesty to his paintings.
He’s widely seen as one of the finest caricaturists in the UK, now fully devoted to landscape and seascape painting. His work blends adventure, curiosity and a willingness to chase unusual views, whether from sea or sky.
- British landscape and figurative painter known for urgent, fluid outdoor work.
- Former yacht engineer and Brighton Lifeboat crew member inspired by coasts and water.
- Award winning caricaturist now focused on seascapes, landscapes and light.
Light drifts across the shifting tide,
holding moments in quiet sway.
A brush lifts up the coastal air,
and paints the breath of every day.