Born in 1973, Toby studied art at the University of the West of England, before spending three years with Patrick Betaudier; himself Artist and Professor of Fine Art, who lives in the village of Monflanquin in France. It was here, at the Atelier Neo Medici, that Toby studied a modern version of the Renaissance technique know as the 'Technique Mixed'.

The Technique Mixed is a method derived from that used by the Flemish Renaissance master Jan Van Eyck. It combines tempera with layers of oil glazes.