ARTIST STATEMENT
My goal is to give the viewer a glimpse into a life. By spending time with my subjects before painting them, I can get a strong sense of their energy, which then helps me to capture their essence. By capturing their essence, I frame a narrative. What that narrative is, is the mystery to be uncovered.
In terms of subjects, everyday people are my biggest inspiration. Within every person is a full life: we love, we feel joy, we work, we feel pain. My role as a painter is to document part of a person’s life.
To unlock the mystery, I work almost journalistically. I tend to lean towards psychology, finding an inner narrative, something that is deeply meaningful to the person such as a recurring dream or obsession, to name just two of the many narratives people hold within.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Donegal based artist Neil-Jack Alphonsus Hamilton, was born in County Down and comes from a family of artists. After graduating in Fine Art from the University of Ulster and having his work exhibited in numerous local exhibitions, he moved to Spain where he became involved in live performance drawing. In 2018, Neil moved back to Ireland and began to specialise in oil portraiture. He was selected to be on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2022. Neil is regularly commissioned for portraits and also teaches life drawing in Donegal.
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Education
2014 Batchelor of Arts with Honours in Fine Art, University of Ulster Belfast
2011-2014 University of Ulster Belfast Fine Art Painting
2010-2012 University of Ulster Belfast Foundation Degree Fine and Applied Art
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Work Experience
2014-Present- Commission Work
2018- Present- Life drawing tutor
2018- Present - Life drawing teacher, DELS Donegal
2015- Film prop designer for Rian Lennon
2012- Working with Philip Napier, NCAD professional practice
2008- Rogue rocket work experience with William Simpson
Exhibitions
4th December 2023 - 7th January 2024 - Home, Green door gallery, Brussels, Belgium
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10th September - 23rd September 2023 - Dublin Painting and Sketching 145th Exhibition, Town hall, Windmill lane, Dublin
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22nd May - 30th July 2023- Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts 193rd Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin
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1st July - 21st July 2023- Cairde Visual, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
CAT AND THE MOON AWARD WINNER
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​6th May -21st June 2023- Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture 197th Annual Exhibition, RHA Museum, Edinburgh
22nd April - 24th June 2023- Bath Society of Artists 118th Annual Exhibition, Victoria Art Museum, Bath
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2023- Jacksons painting prize longlist-https://jacksonsart.awardsplatform.com/gallery/GXOlNprR/EZxqXPEk?search=2fce9e8f2b3b2eaa-1
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13th October 2022 - 3rd January 2023- 141st Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast
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18th September - 1st October 2022 - Dublin Painting and Sketching 144th Exhibition, Town hall, Windmill lane, Dublin
ANNUAL OPEN SUBMISSION AWARD WINNER
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2nd July - 29th July 2022- Cairde Visual, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
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14th May- 2nd July 2022- Bath Society of artists 117th Annual Exhibition- Victoria Art Museum, Bath https://bsaonlinegallery.oess1.uk/artwork/ArtistPage/38035?exhid=296&fbclid=IwAR2p54lq-USCZtk-F3r_w8pqssryFqn5OwXCvOPOBbhVKiD81e9KCr6jpN4
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13th September- 25th September 2021- Artcetera Studios, Belfast - Melting pot IV
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August 2020- January 2021- International arts competition, Art Certificate, Virtual Exhibition
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16th October 2020-31st January 2021- 139th Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast
https://www.royalulsteracademy.org/
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27th February 2016- J&J, Granada Spain- Live drawing performance and show
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August 2014- Catalyst arts, Belfast- Studio 11 show
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July 2014 - Waterfront exhibition, Belfast
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6th June 2014- University of Ulster, Belfast- Degree Show
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October 2013- Linen Hall Library, Belfast- Illustrator for Love and Marriage case study (As part of the peace process)
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August 2012- Folk town, Belfast
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2012- Haymark Arcade, Belfast- Thou Art Skint
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2011- University of Ulster, Belfast- Foundation end of year show
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2010- Norway Exhibition, Norway- Health