July Spotlight: Pam Tong – photographer, painter and mixed media artist

Photography has always been at the heart of Pam Tong’s creativity. Over the years, her lens has become a way of exploring the abstract beauty found in nature.  Shapes, shadows, reflections, and the unexpected patterns that emerge when viewed from a different perspective.

Pam is particularly drawn to seascapes and rugged coastlines, which continue to inspire much of her work. Regular December visits to Cornwall have immersed her in its ever-changing light, where vast expanses of sea and sky merge into one, and the colours and textures of rocky shorelines reveal endless possibilities for artistic interpretation.

These photographs became the starting point for her painting practice. Initially inspiring atmospheric seascapes, Pam soon discovered that by focusing on small sections of rock formations, she could uncover striking abstract compositions, rich in texture, shape, and colour.  These then evolved into her distinctive textured rock abstracts.

Following retirement, Pam expanded her creative practice, experimenting with a variety of media including collage and oils, and developing a style that captures both depth and texture.

“I loved taking photographs from a very young age. Over time I became fascinated by shapes, reflections, abstraction, and how individual images can work together to create something entirely new.”

This fascination is reflected in her photographic montages, including studies of colourful boat hulls along the seafront in Deal and intricate compositions inspired by the coiled springs inside a decanter, an image that was digitally reworked to create her montage entitled “Spring”. 

Her collage, A Frog’s-eye View, invites closer inspection and reveals that nothing is quite as it first appears. A surreal interpretation of a garden scene that slowly unfolds its hidden narrative.

Pam continues to explore shape and colour through still life, discovering fresh perspectives within familiar subjects. A regular exhibitor at the TASS Summer Exhibition, we look forward to seeing Pam’s new work in summer 2027.

Pam has chosen “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie as her mood music, capturing her creative process, where colour, texture and form often come together in unexpected ways.

Follow more of Pam’s work on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/pamelatong8?

or search @pamelatong8