Scott Tetlow

Born in Rochdale in 1969, Scott developed a passion for art as a young boy. During his late teens Scott spent his free time sketching punks and designing album covers. It was this body of work that earned him a place at Cheltenham University, where he gained his fine art degree.

In 2002, his much-loved studio burnt to the ground and he lost everything. Unable to continue both practically and emotionally, Scott threw himself into teaching, believing that his art career was now just part of his past.

In 2011, Scott moved his family to Verona and, ironically, moved into an apartment directly above an art shop. Feeling inspired to pick up his brushes once again, he began to draw the stunning architecture. With his passion rekindled, he returned to England and built a studio in his garden. He hasn’t stopped painting since.

Distinctive of the urban pop movement, Scott’s style is innovative and instantly recognisable and was born out of his studies of calligraphy in Taiwan. His journey of drawing chimps also began many years ago, and his iconic chimp character came into being when he was creating a body of work called ‘Emerging Figures.’ In one piece he couldn’t see any human figures emerging, only a chimp, and eventually he gave in and painted the chimp that he could see! From that point, it has become a regular feature of the Tetlow portfolio.

“Every single line on each of my drawings is inspired by a living object, the result being that every line has the energy of a living thing.”