Born in Point Cumana (Western Trinidad) in 1943, Neville began his painting career in the early sixties as a self taught teenager. Sales of his work at this time were conducted 'by foot' mainly in the west of the island, primarily, what is now known as Glencoe, Shorelands, Goodwood Park, Sunset Drive etc.
It was not long after his start that he was introduced to the Sybil Atteck Art Gallery which operated out of the now defunct Salvatori Building on Frederick Street, Port of Spain. Here he was influenced by, exhibited, and sold paintings 'toe to toe' with those who are now recognised as some of Trinidad and Tobago's foremost artists, for example, Dermott Louison, Boscoe Holder and Ou (Edwin) Hing Wan. It is useful to note that at this time he was still very young man who had had no formal training in art.
It was also during this time that they were encouraged by the likes of Lloyd Harris and MP Alladin who would gather the young people interested in art and take them on visits to the now Emperor Valley Zoo and Botanical Gardens to school them with tips on the creation of fine art pieces.
Things were going fine at the Atteck Gallery until the Black Power uprising incident in 1970, and change swept across the country.Most of his artist friends like Jones Gilbert, Mervyn Lynch, Al Akong, Lawrence Marcelio Hovell, Leo Glasgow, James Isaiah Boodhoo and Jackie Hinkson, to name a few, had to settle for change. Not too long after, the gallery came to a slow, then halted to a stop.
Encouraged by Al Akong, both then refocused the core of their energies into the world of electronics. He was eventually qualified in the electronics technology field in 1975 by a school in California, USA. Over the years he has continued to paint but has not been as prolific as in his earlier years instead focusing on his electronics business. Today he resides with his wife Felicita, of 35 years in Cleaver Road, Arima.
Contact:
nrj.trinidadfolkart@gmail.com
