Social enterprise puts autistic Suffolk artist in the spotlight

something that draws people into looking and seeing things how I do.”

Neptune’s Quay, Needham Market and other local landmarks are the subjects of many of Tom’s paintings.

Artist Tom Coomber, aged 25, from Needham Market is autistic, dyspraxic and dyslexic. Needless to say he, and his family, have faced a few challenges over the years. However, despite not always being plain sailing, Tom has one great passion that has sustained him throughout challenging times. Tom is an artist. His style is vibrant and alive, full of movement and bluster. “My paintings are a way of showing beautiful or quirky things that I see as I move around our shared world. It’s really a great feeling to make

Last year also saw Tom’s “Cedar Trees of Needham” short-listed for the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition. This was an enormous boost to Tom’s confidence. It has taken Tom some time to find his place in the world, to recognise his own skills and the contribution he can make. He has gained enormously from helping at local exhibitions and talking to other local artists. Many have taken the time to encourage Tom to keep painting and trying new things.

A timely new start-up called Art Rabble has given Tom a new opportunity to share his work on an even wider scale. The social enterprise sells fine art giclee prints by disabled artists. It showcases work by artists with Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Down’s syndrome and Autism.

Founder, Lisa Lim is determined that the site will be a force for good, “Art Rabble is about recognising the skills of disabled artists and giving them a way to share their artwork which doesn’t require the physical upheaval and demands of a bricks and mortar exhibitions. Each artist tells their own story, giving you a real connection to the artwork.”To hear more about Tom and see more of his work visit art-rabble.org.