Tessa Thonett
I’ve painted portraits since I can remember – well before art school. People’s faces fascinate me more and more – I’m never happier than when interpreting what I see onto the canvas! I’m a portrait painter who paints with oils on canvas and uses both brushes and palette knives to bring about the results I want.
My main aim is to find and show the spirit of my sitter – to not only get an external likeness, but to show more of who they are as a person. To capture a likeness of course is essential, but not a photographic likeness – you might as well just keep the photo!
I also paint imaginary portraits of sensitive yet strong women, honouring those who feel a lot and have grown strong thanks to all they went through. I find it fascinating to explore the relationship between sensitivity and strength which shows up mostly in the eyes.
Faces, faces, faces! I really enjoy people's faces, always have, and particularly the eyes. And what really fascinates me are the nuances and differing spirits that shine through the different characters of those I paint.
Explore My Work
Grace & Grit
My ‘Grace N’ Grit’ series is an Imaginary Portrait Series Honouring the Balance of Strength and Sensitivity within women. My Grace n’ Grit women do not shrink. They stand – raw, resplendent, feeling everything, incomplete – yet definitely enough!
Portraits
I often paint people I meet, simply for the love of it. Each face holds a spark of story, a balance of strength and softness. My portraits do not chase perfection. They aim to capture presence, that fleeting glimpse of truth that lingers long after the gaze.
Prints
Each print is a faithful copy of my original work, created to share the spirit of brush, colour, and story beyond the canvas. Prints allow the essence of the painting to travel—an accessible way to bring art into daily life while staying true to the original.
Commissioned Portraits
A commissioned painting is a chance to see your story in colour on canvas. Together we shape a piece that is deeply personal, whether it celebrates a moment, a loved one, or simply you.
Our 'Meet the Artists' with Pure Art in 2022
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BIOGRAPHY I have always been fascinated by faces and have painted portraits, often through the night, even while studying graphics at Chelsea Art School. Recently I have seen how my training in graphics has influenced my work in a positive way. |
I painted commissions wherever I lived, and they are scattered around the world including Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Europe – also one permanent exhibit of the gallery owner of a prestigious gallery in Vitoria, Brazil. During my years in Brazil I held exhibitions in Vitoria, ES, Florianopolis, SC, and in Sao Paulo, SP. Before then I also held exhibitions in San Francisco in the early ’80’s.
Returning to the UK in 2004 and after surviving an aggressive cancer, I painted many portraits and commissions, while also holding various joint and solo exhibitions around the UK and in London, often showing my work together with my husband, Markus. While living in Hampshire, these included joint shows with Markus for Open Studios, exhibitions in Alton; Kensington Church St. and Camden, London and at the Boomer gallery nr Tower Bridge, London. I held one man shows in Petersfield and Winchester.
In 2022 Markus and I moved to Hastings, East Sussex, and were artists in residence at Bannatyne Hotel for two months. We have had our work on show in different venues almost every month since then. These include various shows at the Hastings Arts Forum, Zoom Gallery, the Stade Gallery, Blast Art Gallery in St Andrew’s Mews, 1200 Postcards Venue, The Electro Studios and Barnaby’s Jazz Bar, Hastings, where I have curated shows as well as exhibited various times.
Mar – April 27th, 2025 – I had work in an exhibition there in Barnaby’s, which I curated together with Markus, called ‘It’s a Wonderful World’. I am curating another show there in Jan/Feb 2026 called ‘New Beginnings’
It’s been a lively time! We also had our work in the Boomer Gallery, nr Tower Bridge, London and also had a pop-up gallery for 3 months, which we called Blast Art Gallery, where I curated the work of around 50 artists, holding a different show every 2 weeks. We were back there in 2024, for the months of Sept and Oct, for Coastal Currents in September, showing just Markus and my work and then for the month of October we curated a show for 10 artists. In 2025 we were also there for the month of Sept, showing our work, together with the work of Elina Rudzite and Justina Kochansky.
As well as commissioned portraits I also paint ‘imaginary portraits’ – my Grace N’ Grit series, honouring sensitive women who are also strong. They are sensitive but not weak, they are strong but not masculine.