I’m Tristan, which despite being quite a cool name, has had a tendency to have been mispronounced over the course of my 50+ years. 

I’ve moved around the country a bit and recently came to live in Felixstowe after a 28 year stint down the road in Ipswich. I suppose the duration of such could be attributed my previous job as a postman and the family its wages helped feed, clothe and house. Regardless of reason, I wish I’d moved to Felixstowe sooner as I love it here - the more gentle pace of life and the proximity of the sea are fantastic.

According to my mother, I’ve had artistic tendencies from an early age, and made my mark as soon soon as I was physically able to do so. I also had autistic tendencies from an early age but such things weren’t often diagnosed way back then, so I didn’t find that out til relatively recently. Said moment was a bit of a catalyst and it started a yearning for a life change that the grim lockdown period accelerated. It was during these times, sat at home with not much else to do, I decided to draw. I had a bit of encouragement from friends and family, some of whom had received my annual handmade christmas card, which until now had been my only artistic endeavour every year for decades. I posted a few photos of what I'd created on instagram and got a pretty decent response. I mainly work on commission now, usually house/building portraits, frequently with cherished cars and other details of personal significance to the customer in frame. I’m yet to become globally famous but there’s a fair bit of my work scattered around Suffolk. I should thank Julien Jourdain @bistronthequay and Jon & Jenny @Hullaballoo, both in Ipswich, and Victoria Petchy from Felixstowe’s own @GalleryBoxart for their support. Thanks to Victoria there’s a fair bit of my work on the wall and for sale @thebeehive cafe, some of the proceeds of which go to Felixstowe Museum and the remainder indirectly go into our local economy, usually via The Felsto Arms and Bar One29, both of which have helped me feel at home here albeit occasionally a bit tipsy.

As for my artistic style, I think its possibly an autistic influence over that of any particular artist, as I do tend to interpret things with a fairly unique perspective. I always feel, contrary to the laws of physics, that things, especially buildings, are looming over me, so I draw them that way. It took me a long time to brave using colour, steadfastly staying with black pen for many years but I’m so glad I did. I don’t think I’ve a favourite piece of my artwork but I am very pleased with the piece I did of a Rough Scaled Python for my sisters 50th birthday.  

That's all for now, 

Tristan