The past twenty years Tom Torrens has strived to produce quality designed functional works of art from recycled and industrial materials which are pleasing to the senses.

Mr. Torrens comes from a family of successful artists and educators. His mother an art instructor, his father a professor of world history, his uncle a graphic designer and his sister an illustrator of wild flowers. Mr.Torrens' son is studying ceramics and plans a career in the arts as well. Mr. Torrens received his masters degree in sculpture from the University of Washington at St. Louis, Missouri U.S.A. and taught sculpture on the University level for fifteen years. Mr. Torrens currently lives in Washington State, U.S.A. with his wife and son where he maintains his full time design and production studio. His studio consists of fifteen assistants and craftsmen.

Mr. Torreris work developed from his desire to use recycled material and found objects and wanting to add various elements of sound and touch to the viewers senses. His fountains and birdbaths, impressive in their static state, take on an added dimension with the sounds of splashing, rippling water and the wistful expressive tones of his bells and gongs play homage to some distant land.

Mr. Torrens' work is found in many private collections throughout the world. Works. from The Torrens Collection are sold in fine craft galleries, elegant nurseries, catalogues and major retail stores in the United States such as Nienan Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Nature Company, Discoverv Stores Inc., Sundance Catalogue, Museum Collection Catalogue and Zona Gallery. Mr. Torrens' works are also sold in France, Japan, United Kingdom, Hongkong, Singapore, Canada and Mexico.

Mr. Torrens' patrons use his work to enhance their homes and gardens to provide a peaceful, artistic, as welt as a functional element to their immediate surroundings. Many of Mr. Torrens' bells and gongs are found in American homes used as entry gongs or door bells to announce the arrival of guests. Bells have always been part of American History as well as World History to signal important events and arrival of quests. Bells are also used in important religious ceremonies. The Torrens bells can be found in many churches and temples throughout the United States. The Torrens Collections currently include various wall and free standing bells, gongs, birdbaths, recirculating fountains, tables, candleholders, world globes, indoor and outdoor lighting, mirrors and clocks. All works from the Tonens Collection are made in Washington State U.S.A. using recycled and industrial materials whenever possible. The primary materials are formed steel, and hand spun copper are also utilized extensively. The quality of the Torrens Collection speaks for itself.