“My greatest challenge as a landscape painter in the 21st century seems to be working within the constraints of the shrinking modern world. I envy the New Hope school artists as I imagine them roaming the countryside virtually carefree and unfettered by the private property signs and new home developments with no aesthetic appeal cropping up at every turn”.

Dean Thomas is a printmaker turned painter. After graduating with a BFA in printmaking from what is now Rowan College in New Jersey, he left the east coast and moved to Colorado. After a little over a year, he became uninspired by the sameness of the west coast and moved into the New Hope area. He has lived in Bucks County since 1995, and continues to be inspired by the nature in Bucks County, including the Delaware River.
Thomas began creating hand engraved plates for monotype and hand colored watercolor prints. From plates he moved into painting landscapes in watercolor. Since about 2000 he paints only in oils.
Thomas has been inspired by the painters in the Hudson River School. He has also been influenced by the impressionists and tonalists of the New Hope School of painters.
Thomas has exhibited at several galleries in Bucks County, including the Travis Gallery in New Hope, the Tinicum Arts Festival, the Coryell Gallery in Lambertville and in New York City.