Tobias Keene is a third generation British Fine Art Figurative Oil Painter; who is living and working in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Keene was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England in 1963. His father is renowned Arthur Keene (1945 – 2012), whose works exhibited extensively throughout Europe including the distinguished Royal Portrait Society. His grandfather was known as “Van Art” a WWII painter. Both Tobias Keene’s parents and grandfather are alums of Birmingham School of Art; and his step-mother Karen Keene, at age 18, started her career at the Royal Shakespeare Theater to head one of the wardrobe teams a number of years later.
Tobias at a very early age studied under both his father, grandfather becoming accomplished in figure drawing, watercolors, and oil paint.
After moving to Los Angeles in the early 90s’ Keene had several U.S. and UK one man and group exhibitions: Earl McGrath Gallery, MOCA (Los Angeles); 11th Gallery (New York); & DW Gallery (U.K.). (Full List Available Upon Request).
His work is in prominent private and public collections. In the U.S., alongside his father's and grandfather's, his paintings are in the permanent collection of the Trout Museum of Art; and "The King's Horse" can be viewed as part of Viscount Charles Spencer's collection at Althorp House, England.
In addition to the Trout Museum and Viscount Althorp - collectors also include: Wallis Annenberg, Robert Downey Jr., Draco Rosa, Tobey Maguire, Tommy Chong, Bill Wyman, Ahmet and Mica Ertegun, Brett and Carol Chen-Mayer.