Neil Pittaway was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1973. His creativity was encouraged from an early age as his parents were both educators, and his father was also an artist. His earliest memories of art include drawing the Humber Bridge as it was completed in the late 1970’s, and winning a BBC Blue Peter badge at age six.
Between 1992-1996 Neil studied Painting (BA Hons) at Cheltenham School of Art. In his penultimate year he won a travel scholarship to Spain where he attended the University of Seville, and was introduced to lithographic printing. This was followed by a Masters in Printmaking at the University of Bradford.
Upon graduating in 1998 he moved to London to attend the Royal Academy Schools, and undertook a three year Post-Graduate Diploma in Fine Art.
On graduating from the RA in 2001 Neil won several prizes for his work. These included The British Institution Prize for Printmaking by the Royal Academy, The John Smith Award by the Royal Watercolour Society and The Excellence in Drawing Award by the Mayfair Arts Club. In the same year he featured on television in ‘The Great Artists Series’ with Tim Marlow (Channel 5).
Neil’s drawings, paintings and prints explore ideas surrounding identity and heritage. They are often culminations of his travels, where he works directly from the subject using sketchbooks to record a journey. In recent years his travels have included Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and trekking extensively in the Himalayas. Neil also works directly from imagination, creating mesmerising large-scale works that blend architecture, history and fantasy.
Neil describes painting and education as his equal passions. In 2004 Neil undertook a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Huddersfield. Today, he teaches courses part-time at the Working Men’s College in Camden as well as workshops and classes at the Mall Galleries for the New English Art Club.
Neil belongs to multiple societies and is a regular exhibitor across London. In 2000 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE). He was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 2002 and a full member in 2005. In 2015 he was elected an Associate member of the Alpine Club. Neil was elected a member of the NEAC in 2016, where he also serves on the committee as the clubs Archivist. Outside of London, he also belongs to the society of Leeds Fine Artists (LFA). He has participated in numerous group and solo shows across the UK.
In 2023 Neil celebrated his 50th birthday with an online solo-show of works. Throughout his career he has contributed to multiple publications, and in this year published his first book The Art of Making alongside the exhibition.
His works are represented in numerous public collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Collection, and the Ashmolean Museum.
