Tom Wanless was a well-known contemporary Northern Artist and tutor whose career in art extended over 40 years. He was born in 1929 and died in 2020.

Wanless was educated at Washington Grammar School and completed his training as a teacher at Bede College, Durham University. After serving with the RAEC in Kenya he studied at Sunderland College of Art where he was greatly influenced by artist Harry Thubron.

After retiring from his post as Principal Lecturer and Co-ordinator for Creative Arts at Leeds Polytechnic in 1989 Tom Wanless became a full-time artist and regular exhibitor at the Mall Galleries.

Tom Wanless contemporary paintings have gained art awards with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, The Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Society of British Artists.

Tom Wanless paintings have been selected for final exhibitions of the Singer Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour on seven occasions.

Tom Wanless paintings are in public, private and corporate collections in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America. These include: American Bankers MBNA, Provident Financial plc, The Paintings in Hospitals Group, Leeds City Council and the Brighton Pier Trust. Tom Wanless contemporary paintings have also been reproduced in many art publications including October 2005 International Artist.