Meet this Talented British Painter Based in Beirut

With his combination of thick impasto oil and thin watercolor washes, painter Tom Young depicts exceptional sceneries of Lebanon in a very unique and delicate fashion.

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As a child, Tom Young visited Palestine and got deeply touched by the Middle-Eastern vibes. The thought of returning kept lingering in his mind.

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Years later, a Lebanese family residing in London grew fond of his paintings of Italy and France, and asked him if he could do a painting of their homeland.

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With that mission to accomplish, Tom Young landed in Lebanon in the spring of 2006.

In his artistic opinion, Lebanon is a place unlike any other in the world. It is a unique place where Western civilization meets Eastern civilization, making it half of each.

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Young is drawn to Lebanon because of his love for dramatic urban contrasts and the coexistence of pain and joy.

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According to Tom, “The contrasts of joy and pain, beauty and ugliness are magnified here. I think that is why I like painting in Lebanon so much. Out of all the places I’ve been to in the world, this is where contrasts of life are most graphics."

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Young is also interested in preserving the beautiful Lebanese heritage. That is clearly apparent in his paintings of old abandoned palaces and houses. He often hosts exhibitions of his arts in prominent places like the Grand Hotel of Sawfar.

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Young is married to the Lebanese conceptual artist Noor Haydar. He actually met her in his studio in Chelsea when she came to visit him out of interest in his work.

In 2009, Young moved permanently to Lebanon where he felt a sense of camaraderie and solidarity.

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