Tom de Freston (born May 23, 1983,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
) is a visual artist and writer based in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
. His work is known for his focus on images of humanity, despair, that ‘convey our most haunted fears about a world struggling for survival’ (Richard Cork). His practice is dedicated to the construction of
multimedia
Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images, animations, or video into a single interactive presentation, in contrast to tradition ...
worlds, combining
painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...
s,
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
, writing and
performance
A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
Management science
In the work place ...
into immersive visceral narratives.
Career
De Freston graduated from
Cambridge University
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
in 2007. His painterly, literary and stage projects are often collaborative and interdisciplinary, and frequently draw on literary, art historical, personal, and social sources and themes. Regular collaborators include his wife the writer
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, the film maker Mark Jones (Unmarked Films), the writer and academic Professor
Simon Palfrey and the academic Dr. Pablo de Orellana. Past and ongoing collaborative projects include ''I Saw This'', ''Demons Land, Truthtellers, Poor Tom, Orpheus and Eurydice'' and ''Scavengers.''
He started exhibiting professionally in 2008 and to date has had twenty-six solo shows. He was represented by Breese Little Gallery (London) from 2012 to 2016. He is currently represented by No20 arts, London. His debut solo show with No20 Arts was ''From Darkness,'' from March to July 2022. A monograph on de Freston’s work by the writer and academic Dr. Stephen Kenyon Owen is forthcoming with Gatehouse Press, 2024.
His writing is represented by the literary agent Harriet Moore at David Higham Associates. His debut work of narrative non-fiction, ''Wreck'' was published by
Granta in 2022. His second narrative non-fiction book is forthcoming with Granta in March 2024. ''Julia and the Shark'' (2021, Hachette) in collaboration with his wife,
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, was shortlisted for
Waterstones Book of the Year and the
Wainwright Prize
The Wainwright Prize is a literary prize awarded annually for the best work of general outdoors, nature and UK-based travel writing. In 2020 it was split into the Wainwright Prize for UK nature writing and the Wainwright Prize for writing on globa ...
for Children's Writing on Nature and Conservation. It won the inaugural Waterstones Children’s Gift of the year. In September 2022 their next collaboration, ''Leila and the Blue Fox'' will be published (
Hachette Hachette may refer to:
* Hachette (surname)
* Hachette (publisher), a French publisher, the imprint of Lagardère Publishing
** Hachette Book Group, the American subsidiary
** Hachette Distribution Services, the distribution arm
See also
* Hachett ...
).
Previous publications include various collaborative books. ''Orpheus and Eurydice,'' a graphic poetic novel in collaboration with his wife, Kiran Millwood Hargrave
(Bloomsbury Academic). ''Poor Tom'', a collaboration with the academic and writer Professor Simon Palfrey in conjunction with the exhibition Shakespeare’s Dead at the
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...
,
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
. ''Charnel House,'' a poetic
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a long-form, fictional work of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comic scholars and industry ...
in collaboration with 37 contemporary poets and writers (Bridgedoor Press), which won best anthology at the Saboteur Awards. ''House of the Deaf Man,'' a collaboration with the poet Andrea Porter (Gatehouse Press). ''A Fools World,'' a poetic visual pack of
Tarot
The tarot (, first known as '' trionfi'' and later as ''tarocchi'' or ''tarocks'') is a pack of playing cards, used from at least the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play card games such as Tarocchini. From their Italian roots, ...
Cards with poet Helen Ivory (Gatehouse Press) which won best collaboration at the Saboteur Awards. ''Scavengers'', poems and paintings in response to the plays of
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
in collaboration with Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Cambridge University). ''Ekphrasis'', poems in response to de Freston’s painting. Exhibition catalogues include, ''From Darkness'' (No 20 Arts), ''Demons Land'' (National Trust), ''On Falling'' (Breese Little), ''Reflections'' (Christ’s College, Cambridge), ''Deposition'' (Green Pebble).
Since 2016 he has been the artistic director of
Medicine Unboxed. From 2016-17 he was the inaugural Creative Fellow at
Birmingham University. In 2014 he held the Aldeburgh Lookout Tower residency as part of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. From 2013-2015 he was Artist in Residence from Medicine Unboxed. In 2012 he represented UK at World Event Young Artists 2012,
Nottingham
Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...
. In 2012 he was Artist in Residence, The Expansionists in Whitstable with Kiran Millwood Hargrave. In 2012 he held the Hatley Artist in Residence at the Centre for Recent Drawing (C4RD). From 2010-2011 he was a Leverhulme Artist in Residence, Cambridge University. From 2009 to 2011 he was Artist in Residence at The Leys in Cambridge. From 2008 to September 2009 he was the Levy Plumb Visual Arts Residency, Christ’s College Cambridge.
Two essays on his work were included in ''Figuring out figurative art'' (
Routledge
Routledge () is a British multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanities, behavioural science, education, law, and ...
).
[{{Cite web , title=Figuring Out Figurative Art: Contemporary Philosophers on Contemporary Paintings , url=https://www.routledge.com/Figuring-Out-Figurative-Art-Contemporary-Philosophers-on-Contemporary-Paintings/Matravers-Freeman/p/book/9781844658039 , access-date=2022-09-23 , website=Routledge & CRC Press , language=en] Essays on his work have included pieces by
Sir Nicholas Serota, Sir Trevor Nunn, Christiana Spens, Dr. Pablo de Orellana, Dr. Stephen Kenyon Owen, Chloe Ashby, Dr. James Cahill, Professor Lydia Goer, Dr. Sam Rose, Dr. Damien Freeman, Dr. Rye Holmboe, Dr. Christiana Spens, Simon Martin, Sean Troth, Dr. Anna Ferrari, Francesca Goodwin, Natalia Orellana and Richard Cork. Reviews and essays on his work have appeared in the Guardian, Elephant, TANK, Trebuchet and Quietus.
Funded Residencies and Awards
Awards
* 2021: Waterstones Children’s Gift of the year winner for ''Julia and the Shark'' with Kiran Millwood Hargrave
* 2021: Waterstones book of the year shortlist for ''Julia and the Shark'' with Kiran Millwood Hargrave
* 2016–2022: National Trust, Oxford University, Queensland University and AHRC follow-on funding for Demons Land project
* 2016: Saboteur Award winner for ''A Fool’s Worlds''
* 2016: Arts Council GFA for ''OE'' exhibition and performances
* 2016: Battersea Arts Centre and Guardian Artists Bedrooms commission
* 2016: Arts Council GFA for ''OE'' film
* 2015: Saboteur Award winner for ''The Charnel House''
* 2012: Represented UK at World Event Young Artists 2012, Nottingham
Residencies
* 2014: Aldeburgh Lookout Tower residency – as part of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival
* 2013–2015: Artist in Residence - Medicine Unboxed
* 2012: Artist in Residence, The Expansionists – Whitstable
* 2012: Hatley Artist in Residence, Centre for Recent Drawing (C4RD)
* 2010–2011: Leverhulme Artist in Residence, Cambridge University
* 2009–2011: Artist in Residence, The Leys
* 2008–2009: Levy Plumb Visual Arts Residency, Christ’s College
Further appointments
* 2016 onwards: Artistic Director, Medicine Unboxed
* 2016: Birmingham University Creative Fellow
Bibliography
* Tom de Freston, ''STRANGE BODIES'' (Granta Books, 2024)
* Tom de Freston, ''I SAW THIS'' (Anomie Press, 2023)
* Tom de Freston, ''SKELLIG by David Almond (25th anniversary illustrated edition)'' (Hachette, 2023)
* Tom de Freston,
Wreck' (Granta Books, 2022), ISBN 9781783786633
* Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Tom de Freston,
Leila and the Blue Fox' (Hachette, 2022), ISBN 9781510110274
* Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Tom de Freston''
Julia and the Shark' (Hachette, 2021), ISBN 9781510107779
* Tom de Freston,
OE' (Bloomsbury, 2016), ISBN 9781474276788
* Ewan Fernie, Simon Palfrey, Tom de Freston,
Macbeth, Macbeth' (Bloomsbury, 2016), ISBN 9781474235556
* Tom de Freston, Helen Ivory,
Tarot - ‘A Fools World’' (Gatehouse Press, 2015)
* Tom de Freston et al.,
The Charnel House' (Bridgedoor Press, 2014), ISBN 9780993016400, ''2015 Saboteur Award Winner''
* Tom de Freston, Andrea Porter,
House of the Deaf Man' (Gatehouse Press, 2012), ISBN 9780956638533
* Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Tom de Freston,
Scavengers', with forewords by Sir Trevor Nunn and Dr. Abigail Rokison (BSA Publications, 2011)
* Richard Cork, Rye Holmboe,
On Falling' (Breese Little, 2011)
* Sir Nicholas Serota, The Right Hon. Rowan Williams,
Deposition essays' (Green Pebble, 2011)
* Kiran Millwood Hargrave (ed.),
Ekphrasis', Fifteen poets in response to the paintings of Tom de Freston (Freewood Publications, 2010)
* Dr. Caroline Vout, Ruth Padel,
Reflections essays' (Tablo Arts, 2010)
References
External links
Official website
1983 births
Alumni of the University of Cambridge
British artists
Living people