About
Tony is a multidisciplinary artist who utilises ‘manual labour’ as a lens to explore a world increasingly shaped by automation and digitisation. By employing unconventional materials (those made familiar to him through years of work as a painter and decorator) he seeks to transcend the limitations imposed by traditional media and practice. As these materials cross the threshold into his studio a transformation takes place – stripped of their function as tools of labour; they appear as objects of play.
Growing up in the small industrial port town of Holyhead, he was shaped by a working-class culture where manual labor played a defining role. This background lends authenticity to his voice as he challenges established perspectives and inherited beliefs. Through themes of transformation and celebration, his paintings offer a fresh perspective on his subject.
With no malice intended, ‘stirring the pot’ has become a recurring theme. Used as a metaphor for bringing issues to the surface, creating awareness, and promoting change, it simultaneously alludes to the repetitive nature of manual work. For him, the act of producing these works becomes a mantra or meditation—the motif evolving into a symbol of freedom.
My across RCA team project explored the “phygital space” – an area that facilitates physical interaction with the digital world. I am deeply interested the possibilities of a more embodied experience in our rapidly expanding reality.