Tom Simpson was a painter who was one of a small group exhibiting in London in the early 1890’s, influenced by the Impressionist movement in Paris. He was born in London and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art under Alphonse Legros.
He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1887 and showed his work frequently at the Royal Society of British Artists, the New English Art Club, the London Salon, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Dudley Gallery Art Society and the Walker's Gallery. In 1926, a large exhibition of his work was held at Walker's Gallery in New Bond Street, London. This comprised of a series of views of Rome, numerous views in Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Kew and various studies from nature.
His work, largely in watercolours, showed scenes in and around Clapham and Wandsworth Common, Kent and Suffolk. He visited Walberswick from 1890-93 and was probably well acquainted with fellow visitors, Philip Wilson Steer and Frederick Brown with whom he exhibited at the NEAC at this time. He also was a member of the IAC, 1905-15 and is recorded as living in Essex. The Bartley Drey Gallery in London held a large exhibition of his work in 1997.
