Art Studios Thonett
New! We have now opened 'Thonett Gallery' in Hastings
As of 11th July 2026, we have opened the art gallery ‘Thonett Gallery’ in St Andrews Mews – a wonderful, characterful location in Hastings behind
M&S. We show our work there, naturally, but we also have a different guest artist every month who have a room to show their work.
Also on the 2nd Thursday of each month, we hold an ‘event’ . Last month we showed Glenn Vaness’s fantastic films that he took in the 70s and 80s, showing St Leonards and Hastings at their best. Everyone left uplifted and smiling. We hope to hold different events, including music, poetry reading, a bit of theatre perhaps, and films – we are open to suggestions!
Art Studios Thonett
Tessa Thonett
”To Paint is one of the most exciting and fulfilling things to do!”
Faces, faces, faces! I really enjoy people’s faces, always have, and particularly the eyes. And what really fascinates me are the nuances and differing spirits that shine through the different characters of those I paint.
Our ‘icon’ paintings are collaborate works, where Markus paints the background in his wild and wonderful way – carving, burning (sometimes), painting and sanding. Then he primes a space where Tessa paints a face delicately in oils.
Markus Thonett
Making art for me is a way of digesting what I encounter in life, including thoughts, concepts and feelings that arise from those experiences.
Some themes are recurring, and I find myself chewing on an idea that I had already toyed with decades ago. But questions like ‘Why?’, ‘How?’ and ‘What if?’ keep redirecting my endless search.