Philip Tonkyn
PHILIP TONKYN
When I was six, after the death of my father, I came from my first home on the edge of Dartmoor to live in Glastonbury. My mother’s house backed right onto the Tor, and its mysterious presence, as much a threshold of darkness as of light, awoke in me great awe for sacred landscape that has continued throughout my life. Dartmoor and Glastonbury are still my greatest sources of inspiration.
From that time onwards I have been drawn to powerful and liminal places where I can sense the ancient spirit of the land. These photographs are arise from my connection with ancient landscape and are my attempts to convey my sense of ‘being there’ in its spirit.
My panoramic photographs are created by merging up to forty-nine bracketed images, covering up to a 270 degree angle of view, far wider than seen in a single glance. They combine extreme wide angle with a close intensity of detail; they are timeless landscapes of memory.
I studied sculpture at Somerset College of Art but later specialised as an air-brush artist, illustrating many record and book covers, including for the rock band Hawkwind and authors Brian Aldiss, Frederick Pohl and Robert Heinlein. I taught art in London and North Devon and was Director of Art at Portsmouth Grammar School from 1988 to 2003. I have an MA in Art Education and am a Member of the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers.
In 2007 I returned to live in Glastonbury with my wife Caroline. Together, we produce prints and cards celebrating our love of Glastonbury, the Ancient Avalon and our long time spiritual home.
£84.00Chalkhill Blue
£84.00Lilypond, Glastonbury Abbey
£84.00Pilgrim Path, Glastonbury Tor
£84.00Ancient Oak, Avalon
nilCastlerigg Stone Circle
nilEvening Light, Glastonbury Tor
nilFirst Light, Glastonbury Tor
nilHarvest Light
nilIsle of Avalon
£98.00Rainbow over Glastonbury
nilSacred Yew, Kingley Vale
nilSoltice Sunset, Glastonbury Tor
nilSummer Evening, Glastonbury Tor
nilSunrise, Glastonbury Tor
nilSunset on the Tor
£98.00Tintagel Sunset
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