Searching for a Bigger Subject: Everest and the Grand Canyon

In September 2004, as part of his new series "In Search of a Bigger Subject", Tony painted in and around The Grand Canyon.

In March 2005 Tony travelled with a group of friends in the Everest Region in order to make paintings of the world's highest mountain. On a journey lasting four weeks he hiked to a high point (17,500 feet) above Gokyo.

Having decided that he had not completed sufficient paintings on his first expedition, Tony returned to the Everest Region in April/May 2006. This time he completed seven smaller pieces, including one at 17,800ft. on Kala Pattar (600ft. above Basecamp) - the highest painting he has ever done. He also worked on a second 6ft x 3ft painting.

Tony returned to the Himalaya for the third time to complete the Everest section of his new exhibition. He went to Tibet and completed a 3ft x 4.5ft painting of the North Face from Rongbuk, and a small painting from North Face basecamp. He then travelled to Kharta and trekked over the Cho La Pass (because of deep snow his group was the first over the pass this season) to a vantage point above the fabled Kama Valley. There he worked on a painting of the East Face, seen briefly during a break in the blizzard conditions that beset the camp during their stay. Returning over the Cho La Pass he worked on a 3ft x 4ft painting of Makalu and Kangchungtse.

It is believed that  he has become the first person to paint all three faces of Everest, and has created the largest painting of Everest done on site (6ft x 3ft), and the painting done at the highest altitude (17,800ft).