Toni Watts

An artist based in UK

Toni Watts is one of the few remaining professional illuminators practising the medieval craft of illumination in the UK. Trained as a doctor, Toni worked as a GP for 21 years, before resigning to care for elderly parents. Painting has always been a hobby, since her childhood, and she had regular exhibitions of her wildlife paintings even during her hears as a doctor.

Toni specialises in creating illuminated manuscripts using 24-carat gold leaf, handmade gesso, home-made paint, replicating techniques and recipes dating back to the medieval period when books were handwritten and decorated by hand. Toni makes her own paints using pigments from rocks, minerals, roots, berries and leaves. Her exquisite work combines painting, illustration, gilding, calligraphy, and also draws from chemistry, geology and botany.

She has painted since she was a child, has been a professional wildlife artist since 2005, and an illuminator since 2012. Toni has both a Bachelor’s degree and a Masters in Art History.

Follow Toni on Instagram, or visit her website.

Highlights

Artist in Residence, Lincoln Cathedral

Conducts workshops internationally

Awards:

Art and Framing Industry award – Fine Art Trade Guild ‘Best Depiction of the Living World’
Finalist David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year
Christopher Parsons Award for Artistic Excellence
Best Bird Painting – Wildscape Wildlife Artist of the Year

Exhibitions

Solo exhibition, Lincoln Cathedral 2016

Juried exhibitions include:

Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers 2012 – 2014 Mall Galleries, London
David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012 Mall Galleries, London and Shalford, Surrey.
Society of Women Artists 2005 – 2009 Mall Galleries, London
British Birdwatching Fair 2005 – 2013

MA Art History
Diploma from The Prince's School of Traditional Arts