Artist Statement
Having studied Drawing & Painting and Art History in a five-year MA Fine Art programme split between Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh, my practice combines traditional skills with emerging technologies, supported by an in-depth understanding of Western art history. I aim to explore and innovate by merging classical techniques with tools such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and NFTs.
My creative approach intertwines past, present, and future, often drawing inspiration from the great masters of the Renaissance through to the 20th century. I reframe their worlds through a contemporary lens, illuminating themes of cryptocurrency, innovation, technology, contemporary culture, spirituality, and politics. I continually push the boundaries of the painted canvas—peering beyond its surface and extending past the four corners of the frame. Through technology, I’ve uncovered previously unseen dimensions within the work: a multiverse of visual, auditory, and cerebral experience.
Each piece begins with the seed of an idea, followed by extensive research. From there, I develop the concept and choose the most appropriate combination of physical and digital media to convey the message. Many works originate as paintings on canvas, from which animations, music, NFTs, sculptures, writing, and events emerge—each one expanding the narrative and revealing new facets of the whole.
We are living in an age of wonders, where breakthroughs and innovations are announced daily. The most exhilarating part of my practice is knowing I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible at the intersection of art and technology.
The Bitcoin Angel
Artist bio
Setting out from his homeland of Canada in 1996 in his mid-twenties with nothing but a backpack and a thirst for adventure, Trevor travelled the world before settling in Scotland, where he enrolled at Leith School of Art. He later studied at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 2008 from the MA (Hons) Fine Art programme. After graduating, he worked as Executive Director of the charity Art in Healthcare, while also tutoring at Leith School of Art.
During this time, Trevor became increasingly fascinated by the intersection of traditional art practices and emerging technologies. In 2012, he began experimenting with large oil-painted QR codes that could be scanned with a smartphone, linking to a bespoke online gallery featuring hundreds of artists from around the world. This exploration evolved in 2013 with his investigation into augmented reality (AR) as a way to bring paintings to life. It became his primary focus after departing Art in Healthcare in 2015. Using AR, Trevor explored themes such as digital ownership, celebrity, and global politics, meeting with and painting high-profile sitters including Dr Jordan Peterson, writer Ian Rankin, actor Brian Cox, musician KT Tunstall, and Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart.
In 2017, Trevor’s interest turned to cryptocurrency. He began investing in Bitcoin and Ethereum, which soon inspired a series of paintings exploring crypto culture and featuring figures such as John McAfee, Brian Armstrong, and Vitalik Buterin.
The next phase of Trevor’s journey began in 2019, when he discovered the emerging world of NFTs. This unlocked new creative possibilities through collaborations and the integration of music, animation, and digital storytelling. His breakout moment came in February 2021 with The Bitcoin Angel, an open edition NFT that shattered sales records. 4,158 editions were sold in just seven minutes, totalling over $3.2 million. Another record followed with The Angel’s Share, a collaboration with Metacask, which sold alongside a rare 1991 Macallan whisky cask for $2.3 million.
Trevor has since collaborated on several landmark NFT projects, including Collision with the enigmatic Pak, Who is the Creator with Batman legend José Delbo, and EthBoy with the brilliant and much-missed Alotta Money. Notably, his MAN VS MACHINE series featured four painted portraits of Ice Cube that were transformed into animated NFTs using AI tools. Each was paired with original music tracks produced by Ice Cube himself.
In addition to his creative work, Trevor is the founder of the Castle Party, a philanthropic Web3 event that fosters community and supports cancer charity Maggie’s. The first Castle Party was held at Stirling Castle in Scotland in 2022, followed by Château de Vallery in France in 2023. Together, these gatherings raised over $175,000 for Maggie’s and brought together hundreds of collectors, artists, and innovators from around the world.
In 2024, Trevor launched two major multimedia projects. The first, CryptoAngels, was a sprawling world of sculpture, digital art, animation, video games, NFTs, Bitcoin ordinals, and an entire angelic multiverse. Later in the year came The Engine, a steampunk allegory blending painting, animation, philosophy, and satire. It laid the groundwork for expansive worldbuilding.
Trevor’s eyes are now set on 2026, when he will unveil his most ambitious and secretive project yet: EXPOS3D. Stay tuned.