Tom Stephenson

TOM STEPHENSON BEGAN PAINTING IN THE 1970’S WHILE LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND, WHERE HE DEVELOPED THE HABIT OF PAINTING ‘PLEIN AIR’ (THE OUTDOORS TO YOU AND I!), WHICH HE STILL CONTINUES TO DO OVER HERE, DESPITE OUR LOVELY CLIMATE.  IN 1999, FOLLOWING EARLY RETIREMENT, TOM ALONG WITH HIS WIFE PAT OPENED THE GALLERY IN THE COURTYARD. IN 2000, THE ‘WHIMSICAL WORLD OF THOMAS JOSEPH’ WAS BORN, HOME OF THE ICONIC CELTIC GIFT RANGE. FOR OVER 18 YEARS, THE SILLY SHEEP HAVE BEEN MIGRATING FROM THEIR GREEN PASTURES IN IRELAND, TO THE FAR CORNERS OF THE WORLD, TAKING WITH THEM A SIMPLE IRISH CHARM. THE ENDEARING PAINTINGS ARE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE MOUNTAINOUS LANDSCAPES OF IRELAND AND SCOTLAND, AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCAL FARM LIFE. THE DELIGHTFUL IMAGERY, COUPLED WITH THE PLAYFUL PUNS ALWAYS RAISES A SMILE, SO COME HAVE A BROWSE THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL SELECTION OF PAINTINGS AND PRODUCTS, AND FIND THAT PERFECT FUNNY GIFT AND MEET THE MAN, HIMSELF. BECAUSE OF THE TOTALLY NEW STYLE, TOM BEGAN SIGNING THESE PAINTINGS USING HIS CHRISTIAN NAME “THOMAS JOSEPH”. TOM STEPHENSON AND THOMAS JOSEPH ARE THE SAME PERSON.