Thomas Hoyne served his naval career in the Pacific Theater as a gunnery officer on the L.S.T. 48. This period was no doubt crucial to the development of Hovne’s excellent knowledge of and feel for the water. For not only does he possess a thorough understanding of the anatomy of oceans —of currents, waves, wind and the weight of water he also has an instinctive sense of the poetry of the sea. His point of view is quite unlike that of any other marine painter currently working. He has developed a distinctive, recognizable identity all his own.

Hoyne’s interest in the romance of the great sailing and fishing vessels began during his boyhood when he spent summers at his grandmother’s cottage in Ogunquit, on the coast of Maine.

"I became familiar with the Gloucester-Cape Ann area," Hoyne recalled, "and while there in 1938, saw the movie ‘Captains Courageous’ in Gloucester. The subject of the story was the Gloucester fishing fleet, and I was completely taken by it. In fact, it started a life-long interest in the New England fishing industry, its ships and traditions. I started drawing fishing schooners and building models of them and have been doing so from that day to the present.”

This intense interest in the history and romance of these hardworking fishing ships—and the dedication to portraying them accurately—has, over the years, taken Hovne up and down the East Coast visiting historical societies, museums and shipyards. He has become friends with those remaining few who are knowledgeable about the industry: shipbuilders, historians, captains, and crewmembers. He has gone aboard most of the surviving ships. His travels and research photographs and taped yarns—insure the paintings with depth and authenticity.

An early inspiration to Hoyne was the famous American marine painter, Gordon Grant, whom he met through his grandmother. “I visited him at his summer studio in Gloucester,” Hoyne said. “Needless to say, I was greatly impressed by his work and knowledge of ships. Many years later, during my duty in the Navy, my ship was tied up at Pier 42 in New York for repairs and I had a chance to visit his New York studio, visit with him and see his ship models and newer paintings."

Once out of the Navy, Hoyne returned home and began working as an illustrator in Chicago. As he became more successful, he was able to also become selective in choosing jobs, specializing in landscapes, antique airplanes and cars and vintage ships. Now, of course, his time is devoted almost exclusively to marine subjects.