Thomas Keyes is a Fine Art parchmenter and Celtic manuscript illuminator based on the Black Isle. With a background in graffiti writing and foraging the artist has found the graphic style of insular art and the lengths the monks went too to make use of the materials from their surroundings an inspiration. Recently he has collaborated with Glasgow School of Art in partnership with An Lanntair to produce a contemporary illuminated manuscript for the Stornoway-Uig corridor, with Groam House Museum to produce Celtic work in response to the George Bain Collection and next aims to create Celtic themed graffiti murals throughout the Highlands and an Illumination with the National Library of Scotland.
Now working on parchment to produce insular manuscript art, he began learning letter arts as a graffiti writer in the Belfast scene in the 1990’s. He produces all of his materials using medieval methods researched through experimental archaeology and creates both traditional and contemporary manuscript artwork with graffiti influence.
He is currently master craftsman at Tarbat Discovery Centre working on reconstructing the parchment making techniques used in the Book of Kells and is also working on a commission for the Royal Irish Academy as part of the Og(h)am project to create contemporary manuscript art using the ogham alphabet. His artwork and research have been commissioned by various institutions including the National Library of Scotland, Glasgow School of Art, University College Cork and the Royal Irish Academy.
Calligraphy & Lettering, Trad & Heritage Crafts, Painting & Drawing
