diff --git a/pype/plugins/tvpaint/load/load_reference_image.py b/pype/plugins/tvpaint/load/load_reference_image.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3cba8d4a1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pype/plugins/tvpaint/load/load_reference_image.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+from avalon.vendor import qargparse
+from avalon.tvpaint import lib, pipeline
+
+
+class LoadImage(pipeline.Loader):
+    """Load image or image sequence to TVPaint as new layer."""
+
+    families = ["render", "image", "background", "plate"]
+    representations = ["*"]
+
+    label = "Load Image"
+    order = 1
+    icon = "image"
+    color = "white"
+
+    import_script = (
+        "filepath = \"{}\"\n"
+        "layer_name = \"{}\"\n"
+        "tv_loadsequence filepath {}PARSE layer_id\n"
+        "tv_layerrename layer_id layer_name"
+    )
+
+    defaults = {
+        "stretch": True,
+        "timestretch": True,
+        "preload": True
+    }
+
+    options = [
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "stretch",
+            label="Stretch to project size",
+            default=True,
+            help="Stretch loaded image/s to project resolution?"
+        ),
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "timestretch",
+            label="Stretch to timeline length",
+            default=True,
+            help="Clip loaded image/s to timeline length?"
+        ),
+        qargparse.Boolean(
+            "preload",
+            label="Preload loaded image/s",
+            default=True,
+            help="Preload image/s?"
+        )
+    ]
+
+    def load(self, context, name, namespace, options):
+        stretch = options.get("stretch", self.defaults["stretch"])
+        timestretch = options.get("timestretch", self.defaults["timestretch"])
+        preload = options.get("preload", self.defaults["preload"])
+
+        load_options = []
+        if stretch:
+            load_options.append("\"STRETCH\"")
+        if timestretch:
+            load_options.append("\"TIMESTRETCH\"")
+        if preload:
+            load_options.append("\"PRELOAD\"")
+
+        load_options_str = ""
+        for load_option in load_options:
+            load_options_str += (load_option + " ")
+
+        # Prepare layer name
+        asset_name = context["asset"]["name"]
+        subset_name = context["subset"]["name"]
+        layer_name = self.get_unique_layer_name(asset_name, subset_name)
+
+        # Fill import script with filename and layer name
+        # - filename mus not contain backwards slashes
+        george_script = self.import_script.format(
+            self.fname.replace("\\", "/"),
+            layer_name,
+            load_options_str
+        )
+
+        lib.execute_george_through_file(george_script)
+
+        loaded_layer = None
+        layers = lib.layers_data()
+        for layer in layers:
+            if layer["name"] == layer_name:
+                loaded_layer = layer
+                break
+
+        if loaded_layer is None:
+            raise AssertionError(
+                "Loading probably failed during execution of george script."
+            )
+
+        layer_ids = [loaded_layer["layer_id"]]
+        namespace = namespace or layer_name
+        return pipeline.containerise(name, namespace, layer_ids, context, self)