Fresh from reaching the final of Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year, artist Tom Winter is returning to The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells this autumn with a new exhibition featuring some of his latest works.
A finalist in Season 11 of the popular Sky Arts television series, Tom will exhibit at the Palace from 19th September until 21st November 2026, giving visitors the opportunity to discover both new works and other examples of his distinctive approach to landscape, portraiture and still life.
Working primarily from his studio at Hengistbury Head in Dorset, Tom has been a freelance painter for nearly 30 years, creating landscapes, portraits, figurative works and still life.
His work explores the character and presence of people and places, with light playing a particularly important role. A lifelong admirer of Caravaggio, Tom is influenced by the dramatic contrasts between light and dark known as chiaroscuro and the way light can completely transform a landscape, object or person.
The exhibition marks a return to The Bishop’s Palace for Tom, who previously held his solo exhibition A Sense of Place at the Palace in 2015.
Since then, his work has continued to be exhibited across the UK and 2026 has proved a particularly exciting year for the artist. As well as appearing on Landscape Artist of the Year, he held his solo exhibition Lightscapes at CODA Music and Arts Trust.
Tom studied Fine Art Painting at The Slade School of Fine Art, graduating in 1997, and was subsequently selected as a student recipient of the Sunday Times Singer/Freelander Prize.
His works can now be found in a number of private collections, including those of PricewaterhouseCoopers and musician Ronnie Wood. The Balcombe Estate also houses his Landscape Artist of the Year semi-final depiction of the Ouse Valley Viaduct.
Merryn Kidd, CEO of The Palace Trust, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Tom back to The Bishop’s Palace, particularly following his fantastic achievement on Landscape Artist of the Year. The Palace and gardens have long provided inspiration for artists and it feels especially fitting to be exhibiting the work of an artist so interested in light, landscape and a sense of place.
“We hope the exhibition will encourage people from Wells and further afield to come and discover Tom’s work for themselves, as well as enjoying everything else the Palace and gardens have to offer this autumn.”
The Tom Winter exhibition runs from 19th September until 21st November 2026 at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Wells.
The exhibition is included with admission to The Bishop’s Palace, including Annual Passes, Day Tickets and Friends of the Palace.