Tom McPhee
Saltspring island, BC Canada
Canadian born sculptor Thomas Richard McPhee studied graphic
arts at the Kootney School of Art in 1974-75. In 1976 he went to
England to study art in the great museums of London and sold his
first collection of gemstone carvings there.
Moving back to Canada in 1977, McPhee settled in Vancouver
and opened a small studio and attended the Vancouver School of Art
(now Emily Carr) studying bronze casting, welding, clay, and
painting. In 1979 he began carving mastodon and mammoth ivory. In 1982 he returned to carving precious and
semi precious gemstones.
In the early 1980's he developed his own technique for gem
carving and since then has become one of the world's foremost
artists in this demanding medium. The gems carved by McPhee range
from the relatively common like quartz and agate to the rare and
unique, such as emerald and sapphire. As a master of classical
realism, McPhee combines both figurative and abstract elements in
his work that often involves mythological themes and archetypes. The
carvings range from small jewellery sized pieces to larger
sculptures.
In 1998, McPhee turned his talent to the exploration of
casting glass into finely detailed miniature sculptures. This
medium lends itself naturally to McPhee's style of virtuosic detail.
As an artist/sculptor, Thomas Richard McPhee has gained an
international reputation for his unique small-scale sculptures. His
creations are sold to collectors world wide.
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