Toby Messer

About the artist

Toby Messer was born in Kingston, Surrey but spent most of his formative years in Oxford. His late father Ken was a water colourist and such was his reputation for fine detail, he became known as the Oxford artist.  

Toby studied graphic design and advertising at the Berkshire College of Art and Design and spent many years as a copywriter. However, he always had a yearning to sketch and paint and when freelance work eventually dried up; he took the plunge to become a full time artist.  He was, in effect, carrying on in the family firm.

His main medium is acrylic and he paints in and around the leafy wildness of Richmond Park. He also finds inspiration in Barnes, with it’s varied architecture – and in addition to this, railway ephemera and industrial estates.    

He continues to be stimulated by all that is around him and although it has been a challenging 20 years, or so, it has  nevertheless been an extremely rewarding journey.