My aim is to offer a glimpse into someone's life through my paintings. I spend time with my subjects to get a sense of who they are, which helps me capture their energy and essence. From there, I build a narrative, but the story is always open to interpretation—there’s always something more to uncover.
 

The people I paint are my greatest inspiration. Everyone carries a life full of experiences—love, joy, work, and pain. My role is to reflect a moment from their lives through art.
 

I approach my work almost like a journalist, focusing on the psychology behind each person’s story. Whether it’s a recurring dream or a hidden passion, I try to tap into something meaningful that they carry within.

Stylistically, I am inspired by both the classic style of portraiture and the saturated colours of movies. Saturated colours evoke a cinematic world which, in turn, evokes the rich life of the subject.

Neil-Jack Alphonsus Hamilton, an Irish artist based in Donegal, was born in County Down and comes from a family of artists. He graduated in Fine Art from the University of Ulster, Belfast, and has exhibited his work in numerous local and international shows. After spending time in Spain, he returned to Ireland in 2018 and began focusing on oil portraiture. His work is centered on telling psychological and emotional stories through painting, often drawing on the inner narratives of his subjects.

Neil was selected to compete on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in both 2022 and 2024. He is frequently commissioned for portraits and teaches life drawing in Donegal.

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

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

9th November 2024- 9th March 2025- AIB Portrait Prize, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin 

13th October 2024 - 11th January 2025- Bath Society of Artists 119th Annual Exhibition, Victoria Art Museum, Bath

6th July - 27th July 2024- Cairde Visual, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo

4th December 2023 - 7th January 2024 - Home, Green door gallery, Brussels, Belgium

10th September - 23rd September 2023 - Dublin Painting and Sketching 145th Exhibition, Town hall, Windmill lane, Dublin 

22nd May - 30th July 2023-  Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts 193rd Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin

22nd April - 24th June 2023- Bath Society of Artists 118th Annual Exhibition, Victoria Art Museum, Bath

2023- Jacksons painting prize longlist

13th October 2022 - 3rd January 2023- 141st Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast 

​18th September - 1st October 2022 - Dublin Painting and Sketching 144th Exhibition, Town hall, Windmill lane, Dublin 

​2nd July - 29th July 2022- Cairde Visual, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo 

​14th May- 2nd July 2022- Bath Society of artists 117th Annual Exhibition- Victoria Art Museum, Bath

13th September- 25th September 2021- Artcetera Studios, Belfast - Melting pot IV

16th October 2020-31st January 2021- Ulster Museum, Belfast- 139th Annual Royal Ulster Academy Exhibition

27th February 2016- J&J, Granada Spain- Live drawing performance and show

August 2014- Catalyst arts, Belfast- Studio 11 show

6th June 2014- University of Ulster, Belfast- Degree Show

October 2013- Linen Hall Library, Belfast- Illustrator for Love and Marriage case study (as part of the Northern Ireland Peace Process)

August 2012- Folk town, Belfast

2012- Haymark Arcade, Belfast- Thou Art Skint

2011- University of Ulster, Belfast- Foundation end of year show

2010- Norway Exhibition, Norway- Health