WELCOME TO MY STUDIO!  

I am mainly an abstract and conceptual artist, mostly using sustainable materials, or materials that were headed for landfill.

My concern as an artist is to question and challenge conventional perceptions and opinions about identity, purpose and the nature of every day life. Relationships play a central role in my work.

My work often involves carving, painting and sanding, and even burning, to bring about the exciting textures, which represent the history of material things, reflecting life and life's experiences. These you can see on the page 'greenish paintings', above.

I enjoy conversations occurring that otherwise would not have happened, coming about due to my work stirring up emotions or thoughts.​
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I am presently teaching art for all levels, from beginners to advanced, at my studio, The Lodge Studio,  in St Leonards, Hastings.

I have many years of experience teaching art, from children to post grad level, but mostly at university level in Dublin for 17yrs.

Feel free to get in touch if that is something you may be interested in.
CONTACT
An Interview about my life's work so far, with Lesley Samms from Pure Art,: 

I have done commissions of private sculptures, as well as shown my work in various international galleries over the years.
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​I was born in Germany to artist parents (Will Thonett and Marianne Tralau), and studied in Dun Laoghaire School of Art  and Design (now IADT), Dublin, Ireland.

I taught sculpture and drawing at university level for seventeen years at
​D. I .T, as well as teaching art to children, troubled youth and post grad students over the years.   

​In 2022 I had work in a members' show in Hastings Arts Forum, April and August,  showed work in Kensington, London, in early July, then held a joint show with my wife, Tessa Thonett, in July and Aug 2022, as artists in residence at the Bannatyne Hotel, also in Hastings. We gave a one day workshop as part of that residency.
Later we held a joint show together in the Hastings Arts Forum Gallery during the 1st two weeks of October, 2022.


​In 2023, once the HAF Gallery opened after a winter face lift, I held a show with a few other Hastings Art Forum members, called 'Arte Povera', which is taking me back to my roots - using found objects to make statements, and rejuvenate them into objects of beauty and intrigue.
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​Both Tessa and I had work at the Zoom Gallery in St Leonards, and also have work in the members show at HAF, from the beginning  of April 2023.

​We are currently planning an exhibition, together with our artist friend, Alice Maylam, at the gallery in '1200 Postcards', Queen's rd., Hastings, starting on 14th April, followed in May by an exhibition at Electro Studios and another at the Zoom Gallery, with work from all three of us.


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​Click  the button below to see a short interview about the exhibition which ran for 2 months at Bannatyne Spa Hotel, Hastings, in July and Aug 2022
Video w/ Tessa About our Bannatyne Show

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Link to Tessa's Website
Pure Arts Group