Hi, I’m Tom (he/him).

I was born in Coventry, and I now live and work in South London. I’m an artist and researcher, and I combine my multidisciplinary studio and exhibiting practice with teaching and enabling others in Fine Art and Sculpture.

One of the ways in which I’m currently pattern-seeking is a practice-based research project on ‘Nonlinear time and Neurodivergent Making’, which identifies the intersections I see and make across Neurodivergence, Science-fiction, and DIY. 

Here's a selected list of some things I have done or been asked to take part in:

Upcoming:
2026 EDI Placement: Neurodiversity - a p/t advocacy and consultancy research post, Techné DTP.
2016 Workshop Lead - for Cognitive Coalitions: Languages of Care. Principal Investigator: Dr Roman Vasseur, Kingston School of Art.

Solo and Duo exhibitions:
2016 Rubblewerk. Solo presentation at PLAZAPLAZA, as part of Art Licks Weekend 2016.
2013 Augury at 38b Projects, London. In association with Art Licks Weekend.
2013 Bricoleurze With Annie Davey. Space In Between, London.

Selected Group exhibitions:
2026 DIVERGE: Neurodiversity and Making Symposium, the Hanger Gallery, RCA, London.
2025 Games workshop Research Day, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester.
2025 Over and Over and Over Again!, The Handbag Factory, London. Curated: Lizzie Hughes. 
2025 The Object as Research, Wolfson Gallery, London College of Fashion. 
2024 HIDDEN, the Hanger Gallery, RCA, London.
2022 Once upon an Instant, University of Applied Sciences, Berlin. With Poppy Woodeson. 
2022 10 Years. Group exhibition at Camberwell Space, London.
2022 sixfifteen An online, collaborative film work, curated and arranged by Sarah Howe.
2021 Sarah Staton's Supastore Southside, Slingbacks and Sunshine at South London Gallery.
2021 What do we know (anyway)? at Bloc Projects, Sheffield. 
2020 Mantle, Monitor, Ledge #003, at ADAM, the Strand. Online & physical exhibition.
2020 BREEZE DE LA BREEZE. Group exhibition at ZONA MISTA, London.
2019 neo:artprize 2019 exhibition, Bolton Museum Gallery.
2018 HIDDEN 2018 Courtyard and Hockney Galleries, Royal College of Art.
2017 The Museum Has Abandoned Us at State of the Art, Berlin. Curated by Isthisit?
2017 Relics from the De-crypt. Group show at Gossamer Fog, London.
2016 Next Doör. A large-scale solo commission for Supernormal Festival, Braziers Park.
2014 Red Mansion Prize Exhibition, Dyson Gallery, Royal College of Art.
2014 7th International Conference, Contemporary Cast Iron Art, Pedvale Museum, Latvia.
2013 Orreries and other objects. Rogue Project Space, Manchester.
2013 An Arrangement in White, XO, Leeds.
2013 Un-Specific objects. The Royal Standard, Liverpool.
2013 Saint Vincent European Art Prize Exhibition. Saint-Vincent, Valle d'Aosta, Italy.
2013 Canal and Rivers Trust Exhibitions: London. Nous Vous collective, ACE & CAS funded.
2012 MICROCOSM with The Departure Foundation, Ellington Building, Leeds Valley Park.

Education:
2023 - 2028 PhD Candidate, Kingston School of Art, Kingston University.
2019 PgCert in Art and Design Higher Education, Royal College of Art.
2012 MA Fine Art, with Distinction. Chelsea College of Arts.
2011 Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, with Distinction. Chelsea College of Arts.
2004 BA Hons Fine Art, First Class Honours. Leeds Metropolitan University.

Awards, residencies, memberships:
2022 Artist Blacksmith residency with Urban Crafts Foundation, Lambourne End, Essex.
2022 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Grant. 
2020 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Advance HE. 
2014-15 The Foundling Residency, funded by Artquest.
2013 Artquest Workweek Prize. In Association with Art Licks.
2013 Red Mansion Prize Residency, Beijing.
2012 The GAM Gilbert de Botton Art Prize.
2012 Saint Vincent European Art Prize - Second Prize.
2012 Shortlisted: Nina Stewart Artist Residency, South London Gallery.
2012 Canals and Rivers Trust Residency, with Nous Vous, Contemporary Arts Society.
2011 The Patrick Caulfield Scholarship, Chelsea College of Art and Design.

Conference papers, workshop presentations:
2026 ‘Hot Metal and Guzzoline’ for DIVERGE: Neurodiversity and Making Symposium, Royal College of Art, London. 
2025 Neurodivergent Making: Kitbashed Temporalities and Weirdboy Leanings #2, for ‘Games Workshop Research Day’, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, convened by Manchester Games Centre.
2025 Co-organiser, for Shama Khanna’s landbodyminds, Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, London.
2025 Neurodivergent Making: Kitbashed Temporalities and Weirdboy Leanings #1, for ‘The Cruellest and Most Bloody Stream Imaginable’ convened by Nicolete Burbach, LCCCF, Birkbeck University.  
2025 The Object as Research, panel host, for Techne DTP, London College of Fashion Archives. 

Writing, speaking, events:
2020 1big1, Writer. Horrid Covid digital zine, #6: un/learnings: on C-19’s cultural side-effects. 
2019 LASTING IMPRESSIONS II, Study day delegate, Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.
2019 The Artist Researcher, Artquest Panel Speaker, at The Foundling Museum, London.
2017 The Three Tuns, The Bullyard, CV1, Writer. Pea Proposals Spotlight Series 2.0.
2017 XVII International Workshops of Art Casting, Artist, Tutor. Academy Fine Arts, Gdansk.
2015 End-Paper, Artist. The Foundling Museum, with Artquest, Esther Leslie, Helen Kaplinsky.
2014 Bricoleurze, Interview with Annie Davey and Natasha Hoare, at Space in Between.
2013 IKTA Digital broadcast. Composer. (Ch)o/aural Unction: Anthem for Coronation.
2011 The Valuation of Artwork as an Exact Science. Writer. Next to Nothing, Black Dogs.

Recent posts:
2023-2028 PhD Candidate with Kingston School of Art.
2025-26 Visiting Lecturer, BA Fine Art, Leeds Arts University. 
2015-23 Specialist Technical Instructor in 3D/Making, Sculpture. Royal College of Art. 
2019 Creative Development Consultant, MAKE Liverpool.
2018-19 Visiting Lecturer UAL, Leeds Arts University, Vilnius Academy, Liverpool John Moores.
2018 Associate Tutor, Ore and Ingot Foundry, Bronze Casting Workshop, Spike Island, Bristol.
2017 Sculptor/Tutor, Lost Senses participation programme. Guest Projects, London.
2015-16 Committee Member & Build lead, DIY Space for London.
2015 Technical Development Consultant, Pangaea Sculpture Centre, London.

Press: 
2018 Sky Marbles, documentation of ongoing Artist Projects, The Foundling Museum, London.
2018 Lily Cole: Balls review: The Observer, Laura Cumming. Reference to Sky Marbles.
2015 Ken, Madge and the Strange Rock, Radio 4, Peregrine Andrews. Research referenced.
2015 Research Residency Interview, conducted by Nick Kaplony, Artquest.
2014 Through a different window frame Artlicks Issue 14, Interview with Eva Rowson, 38b.
2013 Tom Railton Art Licks magazine, Issue 13. Featured exhibition.
2013 Art Licks Weekend: Peckham Tour, This is Tomorrow, Rachel Guthrie.
2013 The Catlin Guide 2013: New artists in the UK. Featured artist.

More me:
Email: t.c.railton AT gmail DOT com                                                
Website: www.tomrailton.com
Insta: @tom_railton