Former Fine Art student Tom now spray paints murals all over the world for likes of Apple and Toyota
Studying Illustration and Fine Art at York College was the starting point for a career that has led to Tom Sledmore spray painting awe-inspiring murals around the world.
The hugely talented artist, known as SledOne, has been commissioned to work in Dubai, Germany, the Netherlands and France for an impressive growing client list, including the likes of Apple, Toyota, booking.com and Monster Energy Drinks.
Closer to home, meanwhile, you might already be familiar with Tom’s work.
His stunning Peregrine Falcon mural has been stopping passers-by in their tracks outside Browns department store in York city centre.
Visitors to funky, open-air food court SPARK will also have been wowed by his contemporary designs.
Tom, 30, first became interested in graffiti and mural art during his time as a College student from 2010 to 2013.
During those formative years on Campus at Sim Balk Lane, he was also commissioned for his first job – painting the back end of an artic lorry for a portable Santa’s Grotto.
“It was pretty good money and that’s when I realised I might be able to make a living from it,” Tom recalled. “College was an environment where you got so much time to practice and experiment with your drawing and I became really passionate about murals and graffiti.
“After that first job, I started doing murals on weekends around my College work and was being commissioned for minor jobs, earning £100 or £200 at a time.”
The combination of continuing his education in the classroom, while making his first steps into a creative career, proved a perfect blend for Tom, who added: “I did a two-year course in Illustration and then a year on the Fine Art Foundation course (now part of College's York School of Art provision).
“The facilities were amazing and we were given the opportunity to explore and learn different things. The tutors were also very passionate in their teaching and it was a rewarding course.”
Tom’s next steps after three fulfilling years at College saw him study Fine Art at the University of West England in Bristol.
He started his own company with a friend while still an undergraduate and approached businesses who might be interested in mural art for promotional events or advertisements.
Tom is now self-employed and his work is wonderfully varied, taking him to the likes of Amsterdam, Hanover, France, London, Cardiff, Glasgow and France, as well as Dubai, where he has been commissioned to provide murals for gyms.
He also regularly spray paints at music festivals and has absolutely no regrets about the artistic pathway he has pursued.
“I enjoy the speed of mural work,” he enthused. “I use spray paint 90 per cent of the time and can normally complete the whole side of a building in two days.
“I never thought pursuing a career in art would take me to the places that I have been, but I love travelling and, unless I get burnt out, I’d love to carry on traveling forever. After years of practice, I also feel comfortable painting anything now and do a lot of advertising work in London.
“I work to an exact brief with some jobs but then for others, like with SPARK, they trust me entirely to do what I want, which is really nice.”
York BID (Business Improvement District) also gave Tom a degree of creative licence when he was asked to create the Browns mural as part of a series to celebrate the city’s history.
His choice of a Peregrine Falcon was inspired by his grandfather, who worked as an apprentice stonemason at York Minster, where the majestic bird of prey has been known to nest.
Another family connection, meanwhile, contributes to Tom’s feeling that the mural is one of his favourite pieces of work.
“York doesn’t have many murals of that size so, being from York and being asked to do one right in the centre of the city, was quite a big deal for me,” he admitted. “My mum even used to work nearby at Mulberry and painting it was really enjoyable. The reaction to it has also been really nice.”
To see more of Tom’s work, please visit his SledOne website here
More information on the Art & Design Foundation course that Tom studied at York College can be found here
For our full York School of Art provision, please click here
You can also speak to tutors and learn more about the range of Art & Design courses available at York College by attending our next Open Event on Tuesday, 8th October from 5.30pm to 8pm. To register a place, please click here
