Curriculum Vitae — Neil Ernest Tomkins

Neil Ernest Tomkins

Education

2011           Charlie Sheard Studio School
2008-10        Sydney Collage of the Arts BVA Painting
2007-08        Wollongong University BVA Painting / Print

Prizes
2022 Paddington Art Prize
2022 Mosman Art Prize
2021 Kilgourie Art Prize
2020 Archibald Portrait Prize Finalist
2020 Kangaroo Valley Art Prize
2019           Sea Change Art Prize Finalist exhibition
2016           Waverly Art Prize Finalist exhibition
2015           Fishers Ghost Art Award Finalist exhibition
2014           Wall to Wall Awarded 3rd place
2013           Out of Sight Awarded 1st place
2011           Glebe Art Prize Youth Art Prize Winner

Solo Exhibitions
2024 Goin’ Out West - Maunsell Wickes Gallery NSW
2023 Country X country - Art Leven NSW
2022 Return of Rivers - Maunsell Wickes Gallery NSW
2021 Between Dreams - Maunsell Wickes Gallery NSW
2020 Now Here.Nowhere – Maunsell Wickes Gallery NSW
2019           This Dream Called Reality – 17 Oxford St NSW
2019           The Long Walk Home – Day Fine Gallery NSW
2019           Synergy Collaborations – Studio Gallery VIC
2018           This Could be Your Colour – Raizvanguarda PT
2018           The Veil – New Standard Gallery NSW
2017           Tomkins at Sea – Private Boat showing NSW
2017           Rising Dark – New Standard Gallery NSW
2016           A Deep Rumble – New Standard Gallery NSW
2014           East of Eventuality – Ginkgo Gallery NSW
2013           Neil E Tomkins – Ginkgo Gallery NSW
2010           SCA grad Show – Sydney Collage of Arts NSW
2010           Animals and Landscape – Mil’s Gallery NSW
2008 Birds and Friends – Abattoir Gallery NSW
2007 New and Old Work – Long Gallery NSW

Group Exhibitions
2024 Annual Group Show - No Vacancy MELB
2023 Sydney Contemporary – Art Leven NSW
2020 Studio Direct – Micheal Reid Gallery NSW
2019 The Paper Salon – Ambush Gallery NSW
2018 Paper and Canvas – New Standard Gallery NSW
2017 June – New Standard Gallery NSW
2017 Lost Horizons – Alpha Gallery NSW
2016 Higher Ground – Kinokuniya NSW
2015 Art Parked – Artesian 4 NSW
2014 We, The Muse – Ambush gallery NSW
2012           Outpost Festival – Cockatoo Island NSW
2011           Communicating with Rocks – Mils Gallery NSW
2011           New Blue Moon – Hibernian House NSW
2009 Two Young Painters – Cat & Fiddle NSW
2007 Ten Young Artists – Project Gallery NSW

Collections

Neil Tomkins work is held in Private collections Nationally in NSW, VIC, QLD & TAS and Internationally in USA, MX, PT, FR, DE, MN & IN.

Residencies

2025 Albers Foundation carraig-na-gCat IRL
2018           Milton Post Office Residency NSW
2018           Raizvanguarda Artist Residency Góis PT
2018           Unconformity Festival Residency TAS
2017           Q Bank Artists Residency Queenstown TAS
2015           El Ray Private Residency Mazunte MX

Selected Engagements

2019           Mural in a Day – Arts Education
2019           Newtown PS – Arts Education
2018           Mural at Jarjum PS – Arts Education
2017-18 Gallery Director – Alpha Gallery
2017           Currambena – Arts Education
2016           Street Creatures – Program Facilitator
2015           Mural Program MELB – Project Facilitator
2014           Dulwich Hill PS – Arts Education
2013           Screen Print Course Naidoc - Teacher
2012           Matching Grants – Program Facilitator
2011           Charlie Sheard Intern

A long-standing & productive residency at the Annandale Higher Ground Studios continues to be host to his exploration of painting, mark making & his continued play with the notions of these themes. His current subject matters are focusing on: Australian & South American Landscapes, Expressive Portraiture and Still Life. Tomkins goal is to explore the malleable nature of expressionism. Having been labeled as both an impressionist and an expressionist by various features in media throughout his ten-year career. His overall goal is to create a balance between these two schools of practice.