Bio

Michael Travis Seymour (b. 1976) is a British/American artist & art tutor working primarily in oils. His artistic education includes a BA in Fine Art and a BA in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington(USA).

During his study at university, Seymour became more familiar with the history of classical art and the importance of drawing and painting from life.  This experience redirected his focus to more traditional fine arts and further research afield.

After receiving his degrees in 2001, he began investing more time to drawing from life and to making copies of master paintings from museum collections.  In 2002 a move to Florence to study at the prestigious Angel Academy of Art proved life-changing.  It was there, in the city of the Renaissance, that Seymour spent the following five years learning and practising the principles of classical drawing and painting, while at the same time meeting his kindred spirit and lifelong partner, English artist Nancy Fletcher.

Being raised near the sea on the east coast of America, was most instrumental for Seymour, as it provided a visual backdrop for which to nurture his love of adventure, art, philosophy, history, and English Colonial culture— the latter being of influence in his eventual settlement in the UK. He is inspired by the coast, and the ideas of exploration and romanticism that are born from them— underlying themes in his work. He also finds inspiration in reading historical fiction, and in the enjoyment of meeting new people and painting from new experiences.

Seymour’s work imbues a sense of precision and clarity; characteristics of classical realist art— but equally, it is born out of sentiment and acknowledgement of raw emotion; a duality which gives his portrait and still life paintings a distinguishable life of their own. His works are classically inspired and styled, but not overworked; dappled with refinement, and yet rendered with a vivacious and romantically modest honesty— all of which are hallmarks of Travis Seymour’s work.

His artwork has been selectively exhibited over the last 20 years and they have received various awards for their notable skill and emotive qualities. His work can be found in private collections extensively throughout the United Kingdom and the USA. 

Seymour lives in Barnes, southwest London, with his partner Nancy, and their two children. In 2016 they converted their studios into an art school— The Barnes Atelier, where they continue the tradition of teaching classical drawing and painting techniques to aspiring realist artists.