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 paintings have been selectively exhibited over the last 15 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.
Education
2007/2008 Hudson River Fellowship
2002-2007 Angel Academy of Art, Florence
1997-2001 University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Teaching experience
2016 - Present Owner/Director at The Barnes Atelier, London
2012 - 2016 Senior Instructor at The London Atelier of Representational Art (LARA), London
2010 - 2012 Main Instructor at Fletcher & Seymour Studios, London
2008 - 2009 Core Program Instructor at The Stevenson Academy of Art, New York
Selected exhibitions
May 2020 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
May 2016 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Aug 2015 “Reflecting The Real”, Group Exhibition, Rehs Galleries, New York NY
Dec 2013 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Sep 2013 Ruth Borchard Self-portrait Competition, Kings Place Gallery, London
May 2013 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Apr 2013 “The Modern Atelier”, Group Exhibition, Blackbird Gallery, Asheville, NC
Feb 2013 The Still-life Revisited, Solo Exhibition of works at Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Jan 2013 “The Modern Atelier”, Group Exhibition, The Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell MA
Dec 2011 Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Dec 2011 Winter Group Exhibition, Greenhill Galleries, Greensboro NC
Dec 2011 Small Works Group Exhibition, Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich CT
Dec 2011 Small Works Group Exhibition, Principle Gallery, Alexandria VA
Nov 2011 Still Life & Florals, Group Exhibition, Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich CT
Jun 2011 Gallery Nomads Down East, Group Show with Acme Art Studios, Greenhill Galleries, Greensboro NC
Jun 2011 Recent Works by Gallery Artists, Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich CT
Apr 2011 Salon International Exhibition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio Texas
Oct 2010 Affordable Art Fair, London, Showing with W.H.Patterson Gallery
Oct 2010 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Walls Gallery, Wilmington NC
May 2010 Art & Garden Exhibition, Dermot Chichester Fine Art Ltd., Cirencester United Kingdom
May 2009 New Artists, Group Exhibition, Ringstead Gallery, Norfolk United Kingdom
Mar 2009 Salon International Competition, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio TX
July 2008 Jacob Collins And The Hudson River School of Landscape, Hunter NY
Jan 2008 Winter Exhibition, The Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach CA
Nov 2007 “Annigoni’s Legacy: An Exhibition of Drawings and Paintings from Florence Italy Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of The Angel Academy of Art”, London
July 2004 Solo exhibition entitled “Training for the 21st-Century Artist: Drawings by Travis Seymour”, Wilmington, North Carolina
Jun 2003-2006 Annual Exhibition of Drawings and Paintings from The Angel Academy of Art, Florence Italy