Our first artist collaboration of the year, Montage, sees us enter the emotive and rich landscapes of Neil Tomkins. Through his artwork Neil explores how we connect to the places and world around us. Read on us Neil takes us on his artistic journey.

I started painting from my younger years travelling the landscape and spending time on country. I’ve been lucky that whatever I’ve tapped into within the translation of visual experience and paint has resonated with people. For me painting is like breathing it is a necessary process of being. 

I’ve really integrated painting into how I operate and as a result being mostly a plain air painter I’ve travelled a lot. From residencies in Portugal, Mexico and next Ireland. I’ve also spend a lot of time exploring Australia most recently in Wilcannia with Luke Sciberras and Lajamanu in Northern Territory to spend time painting with some of the elders of Warlpiri Country. 

This is a painting of an old station house in Lajamanu N.T it was the winter but for me still pretty hot and in full light of the midday sun. The work utilises a combination of motifs and colour associations. I enjoy working on linen and leaving elements of the clear primed sizing to peel through and allow natural depth. this mixed with the openness of human spaces that for this moment are unoccupied. 

In 2025 I will be spending time in West Cork Ireland this year for a residency with the Josef and Ani Albers foundation. The cottage and studio is an old poets home in which has been utilised for artistic research and practise.

I’m always reading a few things I just started reading Breath by Tim Winton. I’m also reading the comic book series the Sandman by Neil Gaiman. I’ve been listening to Shannon and the Clams a lot a great band out of Detroit, a resurgence of the 60s psych rock movement I’d recommend the album Onion. I’ve been looking at a lot of Adam Lees paintings recently as well as Justin Lee Williams who has a show opening at Coma in Sydney this month.