(b.1986) James Tottman is a British artist best known for his figurative oil paintings with distinctive flowing lines:

“My work explores the human experience, representing the small joys in life through form and figure, light, and lines.

Lines sit at the core of my practice not just to describe form, but to suggest time, movement, and the feeling of a moment passing. Thanks to my background working in videos games and film, I tend to think in three dimensions, and its that perspective which carries into my work.

Each line becomes a trace, a way of sculpting the figure whilst also capturing something transient. In many ways, I’m painting how it feels to be human rather than how we physically appear. The repetition and rhythm brings a sense of calm and structure that’s almost meditative, echoing patterns in nature and design.

Light is equally essential - I’m drawn to natural sunlight and the mental benefits it brings, when everything feels slower and more grounded. It brings a sense of clarity and calm that I try to hold within each piece. Shadows play their role by adding depth and contrast, allowing the light to feel more deliberate and intense.

Finally, there is often a dreamlike quality to my work with scenes that sit between reality, memory and dreams. With softened edges, heightened colour, and a sense of suspension of time. These paintings are not about specific moments, but rather the feeling of certain life experiences - the quiet moments, the ones that we all cherish, but without the usual fanfare.”