Born in Hull, England in 1951, Tim Thompson spent his childhood in the Channel Islands, where his interest in the sea and sailing first developed. A self-taught painter, Thompson began his artistic career when he was 27, establishing his reputation with nautical paintings whose subjects ranged from the fighting ships of Drake’s era to modern racing yachts and the America’s Cup competitions. His works also include various historic and period seascapes and marine art, including heroic rescues at sea. While Thompson enjoyed success early on, 1982 proved to be a turning point in his career. That year, at a regatta in Cowes, England, he met media mogul and sailing enthusiast Ted Turner, who ultimately commissioned him to paint a number of his yachts.Thompson’s work is characterized by his use of traditional oil techniques. Placing layer upon layer of translucent wash on canvas, he produces a luminosity rarely seen in contemporary marine paintings. He has been much praised for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create dramatic and atmospheric images. Displaying an elegance and sophistication reminiscent of works by the 19th century masters of marine art, Thompson’s works are widely collected by marine art connoisseurs around the world. Thompson has co-authored three books, The Paintings of the America Cup, Gold Medal Rescues, and The Story of Yachting, and was the official artist of national race teams many times. He now lives in Saltash, Cornwall in the UK, with his wife and two daughters.“Color and movement are vital components in my work. It is important that I see exactly how the sails of a yacht are formed when she is rounding a mark or how the ocean appears during a storm.” – Tim Thompson