Tom lives in Bristol. He has been painting in oils since 2012 when the medium seduced him and took him away from illustration.

In a short space of time Tom Hughes has enjoyed considerable success, being selected for several major open exhibitions; the BP Portrait Prize, the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize and The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. In 2014 he won both the Benton Purchase Prize at the Discerning Eye and Second Prize at the ROI at Mall Galleries, London.

Tom paints from life. His landscapes and city scenes are painted on location where, whatever the light conditions and weather he will set up his easel. He will visit favourite views or stop when something catches his eye, a blast of sunlight or just a collection of abstract shapes, pleasing greys and gently stacked tones.

He still works from life in the studio where his compositions of jars, paints and brushes capture his working life and studio interior. Here he can control the light; a blackout blind obliterating sunlight and two lamps taking over. 

Both strands of his painting reflect a very personal experience which he seeks to faithfully convey.