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James Tottman | Artist

@jamestottman.art

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🇬🇧 Award-winning British Oil Painter
🇫🇮 Based in Helsinki, Finland ☀️

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Gentle Touch 🤍

A few quick sketches with some colour shifts, tell me which you love most 🤍

#flowinglines #contemporaryart #relationshipart #feminineart by @jamestottman.art

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6 months ago

Warm welcome to the opening of James Tottman’s exhibition ‘Before the light fades’ on Thursday, 6 August, from 17 to 21 💙

“In a world shaped by complexity and noise, I choose to focus on simplicity, subtle sensations, and the moments when we simply exist.”

The exhibited series of James’s luminous figurative oil paintings is about the fleeting moments of joy in life, introduced through natural light and his signature flowing lines. His art is inspired by memories both deeply personal yet universally familiar, such as the scent of freshly-cut grass, the first few notes of a song we love, or the warmth of the morning sun. Simple but evocative memories that we all know and cherish that are yet often overlooked in a world full of seemingly more important noise.

James Tottman (b.1986) is a British artist best known for his figurative oil paintings with distinctive flowing lines and a strong sense of human presence. Born in Watford, England, he studied Animation and worked as a Visual Effects Artist on major film productions, including Harry Potter. After relocating to Finland in 2013, his work at Remedy Entertainment deepened his interest in Surrealism. Returning to painting during the Covid-19 lockdowns, James embraced oil painting following the profound influence of Edvard Munch’s work.

The exhibition is on view from 6.8 till 16.8. Our doors are open Tue-Sat 14-18 and Sun 13-17. Free entry. Warm welcome. taken in The Blue Verve by @jamestottman.art

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3 months ago

🌟 ARCHES & PRINCETON SPECIAL AWARD 2026 🌟

Nos complace anunciar el Arches & Princeton Special Award 2026, concedido al pintor británico afincado en Helsinki James Tottman (@jamestottman.art) por When the Light Breaks, una obra de óleo sobre lienzo de 80 × 100 cm. 🎨🇬🇧🇫🇮

🏆 Patrocinado conjuntamente por Arches (@archespapers) y Princeton Brush (@princetonbrush), ambas marcas del Grupo FILA, este galardón reconoce la sensibilidad poética, el dominio de la composición y la particular relación entre figura, espacio y luz presente en su obra.

El propio artista describe la pieza como un encuentro entre calma y movimiento, vigilia y sueño. La figura femenina, contemplada en dos orientaciones, transforma una escena íntima junto a la ventana en una imagen de ingravidez y ensoñación.

Con experiencia profesional en cine y videojuegos, Tottman incorpora una marcada percepción espacial y tridimensional a su pintura. Sus trazos fluidos construyen la forma y capturan la calidez de la luz, el movimiento y la naturaleza fugaz de la memoria, situando su obra en un territorio donde la figuración adquiere una dimensión atmosférica y contemplativa.

✨ Nuestra enhorabuena a James Tottman por este reconocimiento y por una obra que convierte la luz en un espacio entre la realidad y el sueño.

📍 tARTget Prize 2026
18–26 septiembre
@ateneodemadrid

🎨 James Tottman
🇬🇧 Reino Unido / 🇫🇮 Finlandia
🏆 Arches & Princeton Special Award 2026
🖼️ When the Light Breaks
📐 80 × 100 cm
🎨 Óleo sobre lienzo
📲 @jamestottman.art

#tARTgetPrize #Arches #PrincetonBrush #JamesTottman #SpecialAwards2026 taken in Ateneo de Madrid by @jamestottman.art

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a month ago

A quick sketch ✨

#digitaloilpainting #oilpaintingart #britishartist #figurativeartist #contemporaryart by @jamestottman.art

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5 days ago

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8 days ago

I don’t know about you, but I love a good black and white photo 🤍🖤
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#blackandwhite #bw⚫️⚪️ #blackandgray #bwphotooftheday by @jamestottman.art

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9 months ago

Even though it’s not quite finished, I thought I’d give you a cheeky glimpse of how it’s going 🌚🌺

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#oilpainting #oilpaintingart #expressionist #expressiveart #contemporaryart by @jamestottman.art

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10 days ago

What happens when you take away the colour?

I like to paint in a way that captures the form and the shapes distinctly, allowing colour to come in later as additional layer to enhance the emotion of the piece.

I find these paintings have a second beauty when viewed through a black and white lens, and sometimes I love to take a moment and look at them in this way - What do you think? Does it change how you feel about the painting? 🖤🤍

#oilpainting #blackandwhite #silhouettes #blackandwhitepainting #figurativeart taken in Helsinki, Finland by @jamestottman.art

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2 months ago

Closing Time 🖤

A quick sketch of an idea I had along with some colour tests - all of my paintings start out with this way. A strong concept will already show itself in a quick sketch ☺️✨

Just like most of my work, it’s inspired from a distant memory/ feeling. And the music choice gives me the exact same feeling, so it feels like a perfect fit 💯

Tell me which version you love the most 🤍

#flowinglines #contemporaryart #art #moody #vibes taken in Helsinki, Finland by @jamestottman.art

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3 months ago

An update on this painting - I love the moody vibe ✨
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#oilpainting #oilpaintingart #expressionist #surreal #contemporaryart by @jamestottman.art

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22 days ago

When the weather turns a little warmer ☀️👚☀️

If you love this please hit that repost button ❤️

#flowinglines #contemporaryart #womenart #feminineart by @jamestottman.art

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5 months ago

‘Lost at Sea’ - in full colour and in black and white.
Which do you prefer? 🌊

100x120cm, oil on canvas. 2025.
DM for inquiries ✔️

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#oilpainting #seapainting #blackandwhite by @jamestottman.art

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a month ago