About the artist

I was born Tomasz Gnus in 1973 in Nowa Ruda, Poland. I started painting in 1990. I'm autodidact. In 2003 I have done my MA in Political Science at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. Since 2005 I painted my pictures in Poland, London and Germany. In 2016 I adopted the pseudonym Tomarian Dragnus as a tribute to my parents' families.

In my work I am inspired by the great masters from the past like Rubens or Klee as well as nature and history. Since 1991, studying old masters' techniques became a very important factor in my personal artistic education.

My works were shown in my hometowns - Wodzisław Śląski and Nowa Ruda, in the castle Doemitz in Germany in 2017 ( a retrospective exhibition ). I took part in the The Portrait Award competition in London in 2012.

Since 2003 I work on the series of paintings called the Whales of Peace - they are dedicated to blue whales and peace.