We are thrilled to be showing Neil Ernest Tomkins as part of our Inaugural Group Show. Neil was a finalist in the 2020 Archibald prize.
Neil says: 'Digby and I share the same middle name, Ernest, and as we were painting each other for this prize it seemed like a good title. It gives a little more background to our friendship and, although it's a coincidence, we have a lot of similarities.'
They worked separately on their portraits for this year's Archibald Prize but as the paintings came together it became clear that they should be hung as one work. 'The way the colours play with each other, although not specifically planned, was so powerful we couldn't separate them,' says Tomkins.
'Digby produced his work of me in one sitting, whereas I did many sketches. I'm predominantly a landscape painter so the process of painting a portrait was a little less natural to me than to Digby.'
Digby Webster is a Sydney-based visual artist with a career spanning 10 years. Digby works across a range of disciplines. He is a founding member of the Ruckus Ensemble, a contemporary performance group who create large scale productions and has also been a production designer and performer on award-winning short films.
Digby approaches art making as a part of his everyday life. He works in the mediums of oil pastels and acrylics. His work reflects strong evocative colours together with an expressive visual language of his own.
Archibald Finalist: Neil Tomkins, Digby Webster, Ernest brothers, acrylic on canvas, 61 x 102 cm; 63.5 x 104.5 cm framed
