September 2023 | Turner Art Perspective | Chelmsford Gallery
Toni’s figurative portraits have captured the eyes of many, including British Musician, Goldie who connected so deeply with Toni’s works that he added a piece of hers to his growing collection. She has received a number of awards, including the RWA 'Emerging Artist' award. The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is one of only five Royal Academies of Art in the UK. Toni was also short listed for Channel Five TV's, 'The Big Art Challenge', and was a Finalist in 'Not the Turner Prize', The Daily Mail, 2003.
The Works
This body of work wants to converse with the ambition bird. These paintings live in a reflective place considering the mystery and pull of the creative drive in our daily life and its ability to reshape us. I have been looking back to those creatives who made art their lifeline, stepping outside the restrictions of their time, allowing the ambition bird to lead without question even though it can feel like a nonsensical existence, accepting both its gifts and thorns, wondering what space it might perhaps be able to hold for others. They say “Keep going! Follow that bird.” and maybe I don’t feel so alone, and maybe it’s the courage needed in these current times to keep making art. So I make paintings for them.
What is art, where does it come from? It’s from that 2am night cry, that bird rattling against its cage, wanting more, wanting to transform, as if it might set itself alight in an eruption of spontaneous flame to become a phoenix. It’s a call, a hunger. This bird as a phantom, metaphor and truth visits me like an affirmation, and somehow painting after painting emerges from the dusty clay shell of my studio.
