Tom Dearie

After painting at the Royal College of Art in London, Tom Dearie moved into comics and illustration — and into Warsaw. F is for Fire took the Grand Prix at the 31st International Comic Competition (Komiksus) in Poland. The local fire department sits behind it: a firefighter and father, hurt on duty, still the hero of the page.

Dearie's art is characterized by its simple, memorable forms and a striking color selection that gives his work a contemporary and comfortingly familiar appeal. His style would fit within the pages of a classic comic book or on the cover of The New Yorker. While his work boasts clear commercial viability, it also carries a whimsical surrealism that often takes viewers by surprise, as exemplified by his Steamy Pete illustration, which could be likened to a psychedelic version of Where’s Wally or Tintin in an alternate reality.

Exploring Tom's pictures is like peeling an onion, kindly. First the colour, especially the purples of recent work. Then the characters, minimal faces that still greet you. Finally the world that unites them: flying dragons, colossal beings, sorcerers, and enormous moths suitable for riding — creatures that might be daunting in reality but are inviting in Tom's pictures. You want to visit. You might stay. In essence, Tom's artwork can be described in one simple term: cool.