About
ABOUT ME
I am a British Artist who works across a wide range of media including painting, drawing and printmaking, where I produce and exhibit original works on paper board and canvas.
BIOGRAPHY / OVERVIEW
As a child in the early 1970s, I started drawing the world around me, as well as ideas from my imagination. My early subjects included castles, people, flowers, and architecture - many of which have remained important to me to this day.
I started exhibiting in competitions and exhibitions at a very young age, this included a BBC Blue Peter dinosaur competition where I won a Blue Peter badge in 1979.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My works reflect ideas from East and Western sources and perspectives such as Anglo-European heritage, transatlantic connections, Asian landscapes, gothic revival architecture, urbanness, satire, illustration and narrative. My work incorporates and explores these identities through direct and indirect observation creating complex and seemingly agoraphobic, perspective spaces; a labyrinth, which reflects the built and natural environments and echoes the monumental histories that make up our collective European and International identities, our heritage.
METHOD OF WORKING
My drawings, paintings and prints are developed from extensive research and sketches produced from direct and indirect observation. I use many different skills, methods, techniques and processes to create richly layered tapestries on the pictures’ surfaces. My drawings and etchings employ a detailed network of line, bitten deep into copper plate or drawn using traditional dip pen and ink whilst his paintings employ more spontaneous yet complex layered marks drawing on the luminous qualities of the paint’s pigments. Everywhere I travel I work directly from the subject using sketchbooks to record a journey; in recent years this has included Africa , the Middle East, Europe and trekking extensively in the Himalayas. These records are then used directly and indirectly to create finished works that capture the essences of time and place.
SELECTED BIOGRAPHY
I am a British artist born in Yorkshire in 1973. I studied at the Royal Academy Schools in London, as well as Bradford University, Huddersfield University, the University of Seville in Spain, and the Cheltenham School of Art. I am a member of the New English Club (NEAC), (where I currently serve on the committee as the clubs Archivist), the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE), and the Leeds Fine Artists (LFA). I am also an associate member of The Alpine Club in London and an alumni graduate member of the Royal Academy Schools, London.
I have won many prizes for my work. These include the British Institution Prizes for both drawing and printmaking, awarded by the Royal Academy of Arts in London, The Ashmolean Museum Vivien Leigh Bequest Printmaking Prize, The Dover Street Arts Club Excellence in Drawing Award in Mayfair, London. These are just a few of the many awards I have received for my Art works.
SELECTED EXHIBITED PLACES
I have exhibited my work in numerous group exhibitions throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. Here are just some of theses prestigious institutions and venues I have exhibited my work at:
Alpine Club, London
The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon, UK
The Royal Albert Hall, London (where my work was featured in their first-ever calendar sold in their shop)
Waterstones, Piccadilly, London
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, UK
Christie's, Mayfair, London
Chris Beetles Gallery, St. James's, Pall Mall, London
Barber Institute of Art, Birmingham
Blossom Street Gallery, York, UK
Burton Gallery, Bideford, Devon, UK
Leeds City Art Gallery, UK
Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent, UK
The Stanley Audrey Burton Gallery, The University Leeds, UK
York City Art Gallery, UK
Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, UK
Scarborough Art Gallery, UK
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Spa, UK
British Council Gallery, New Delhi, India
National Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Heritage Malta, Valletta, Malta
Fabiano Museum, Italy
Centro Modigliani, Florence, Italy
Gallery Oldham, UK
Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya
Mall Galleries, The Mall, London
St. David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, UK
The Penn State University, USA
Carrolton Cultural Arts Centre, Georgia, USA
In addition, I exhibit annually at the Mall Galleries on The Mall in central London, as well as throughout the year at the Bankside Gallery (next to Tate Modern)
Please visit the Exhibitions/News page on this site for details on where you can currently see my work on public display .
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
I have had numerous solo exhibitions throughout the UK, including shows at The Alpine Club in central London, Arts Mill in Hebden Bridge, Burlington Fine Art in Piccadilly, London, The Cooper Art Gallery in Barnsley, King's Lynn Arts Centre, Dean Clough Galleries in Halifax, Shine Arts in Leeds, and The Mansion House Galleries at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Bracknell.
COLLECTIONS
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford
Alpine Club, London
Arts Club, Mayfair, London
Art House, Wakefield, Yorkshire, UK
Bradford School of Art, Bradford College, Yorkshire, UK
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Guildhall Art Library, Corporation of London, City of London
Guy's Hospital, London
The D.H. Lawrence Birthplace and Museum, Eastwood, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
Headquarters Officers Mess Corps of The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Officers Mess and REME Institution, The Prince Philip Baracks, Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK
Heritage Malta Collection, Valletta, Malta
Indian Institute of Contemporary Art, Mumbai, India
St. Paul's Cathedral Library, London
Royal Collection, London
Royal Air Force Collection, UK
Royal Watercolour Society Diploma Collection, Bankside Gallery, London
University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
In addition, my works are included in many private collections, such as those belonging to HRH Prince Michael of Kent, actor Brendan Coyle, and antiques expert and TV presenter Mark Hill. My art can also be found in other private collections throughout the UK, France, Germany, Spain, the USA, Canada, and Australia.
FILM TELEVISION AND ONLINE
2020 Online Interview with New English Art Club Published by the NEAC online.
2016 The Art of Travel the Tour Du Mont Blanc In Paintings, Published online by Exodus Travels
2015 Eastern Daily Press, Norfolk, UK, Article for King’s Lynn Arts Centre Solo Exhibition
2011 Artists at Eden, D.V.D, Artist and Film, London
2011 Neil Pittaway BBC Interview for 'European Journeys and other Worlds', Exhibition, BBC Radio Norfolk, Broadcast January 2011
2005 The Artist and BBC Radio 4, Sound and Vision, Listed online on BBC Radio 4
2002 Contributor to 'Serious Pleasure', Centro Modigliani Exhibition Film, Florence, Italy, Broadcast by Italian Regional Television, Tuscany, Italy
2001 Contributor to the Great Artists series, Tim Marlow, Channel 5 Television, U.K.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
I have also been commissioned to create works for many individuals and organisations including illustrations for an Anthology of London in Poetry and Prose, edited by the poet and writer Anna Adams for Enitharmon Press, London. Drawings for London in poetry and Prose, 21.5 cm x 14 cm x 1cm in depth, Edited by Anna Adams, First published in 2002 by Enitharmon Press, London
Pathways in Time, Paintings Drawings and Prints Published by Neil Pittaway through Blurb.co.uk
First Published in 2019 by Neil Pittaway through blurb.co.uk for the occasion of his Solo Exhibition (12th January to 6th April 2019 at The Cooper Gallery, Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S07 2AH, UK
A Journey in Line Published by Neil Pittaway through Blurb.co.uk
Visual Histories, Published by Neil Pittaway through Blurb.co.uk
Print Rebels, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers
Published by Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, 2018
Watercolour Secrets Royal Watercolour Society, Published by A & C Black Visual, 2018
The Watercolour Expert Royal Watercolour Society, Published Internationally in 2004 by Cassell Illustrated.
Royal Watercolour Society, The Watercolour Masters Then and Now
Published in 2006 Internationally by Cassell Illustrated.
Printmakers the directory Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Published internationally by A & C Black Visual, 2006.
Spanning the Thames, Published in London, 2008.
A Year in the Life of the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Watercolour Society, published in 2011 to accompany the exhibition, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
SELECTED PUBLISHED ARTICLES
2001 Ambit 164, Longitude Etching, Published by Ambit 164, UK
2001 The London Connection, Printmaking Today Magazine, Cello Press, Oxfordshire, UK
2005 Artists notebook, Trafalgar Anniversary Article, Illustration Magazine, UK
2010 The Poetry Magazine, image published with an article on the Poet Louis McNeice, The Poetry Magazine, UK
2010 An Eye to the Past, Exhibition review article, Printmaking Today Magazine, Cello Press, Oxfordshire, UK
2017 Neil Pittaway Interview article, Published by the New English Art Club on line, 1st March, 2017
2023 50 Years in the making, online article, published by the New English Art Club online, 1st August 2023
2023 The Art of Making, online article published by the Royal Watercolour Society, Published 2023
2024 Painting the Mountains of Morocco, online article, published by the New English Art Club online in 30th October 2024
SELECTED EDUCATION
Royal Academy Schools, Royal Academy of Arts, (3 Year Royal Academy Post-Graduate Diploma in Fine Art)
Bradford School of Art, University of Bradford), Master of Arts in Printmaking, (with distinction)
University of Huddersfield, Post-Graduate Diploma in Education
Cheltenham School of Art, The University of Gloucestershire, Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Fine Art Painting
The University of Seville, Spain, Completed a Erasmus Study Scholarship where I was Awarded a certificate of Merit in Lithography Printmaking by The University of Seville, Spain
(Above image): The main corridor of the Royal Academy Schools, Royal Academy of Arts, London
LINKS
Links to Neil's works in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London:
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86750/italy-in-britain-print-pittaway-neil/
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O87173/britannia-square-print-pittaway-neil/
The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, department of Western Art hold several pieces of Neil's work you can view these by appointment by contacting the department by visiting the link: https://www.ashmolean.org/western-art-print-room
View Neil's work by appointment at the Guildhall Art Library, Corporation of London, City of London: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/guildhall-library
LINKS TO OTHER PLACES WHERE YOU CAN VIEW MY WORKS
Bankside Gallery, London: https://www.banksidegallery.com/artists/139-neil-pittaway-rws-re/works/
Mall Galleries, London: https://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/artist/neil-pittaway-neac-re-rws
New English Art Club (NEAC): https://www.newenglishartclub.co.uk/artists/92-neil-pittaway/works/
Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) https://www.royalwatercoloursociety.co.uk/artists/94-neil-pittaway/works/
Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) https://www.re-printmakers.com/artists/111-neil-pittaway-rws-re/works/
Leeds Fine Artists (LFA) https://leedsfineartists.co.uk/yorkshire/category/neil-pittaway/
Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Academy Schools, London https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/name/neil-pittaway
Chris Beetles Gallery, St. James's, London https://www.chrisbeetles.com/artist/813/neil-pittaway-rws-re-neac
Feel free to contact me regarding any of my work, exhibitions and courses I teach by sending a message through the contact page on this site or alternatively you can reach me on: +44(0)7507904846
For a more extensive CV please download this PDF version
