James Tottman

(b. 1986) is a British portrait artist known for his distinct style and refined visual language. His work explores the quiet relationship between form, light, and emotion.

Through flowing, descriptive lines, he shapes surreal yet graceful figures that feel both present and fleeting. Lines that guide the eye with ease and restraint, allowing each form to emerge without force. 

“I want to capture the simple moments that quietly shape us, translating them into a pure form with the feeling of life distilled.”

Natural light plays a central role in his paintings, not merely as illumination but as an emotional presence. It softens contours, creates stillness, and defines moments of calm within each composition. Bold, vibrant colour is balanced against this quiet atmosphere, holding a subtle tension between intensity and serenity.