Toss Woollaston was born in 1910 in Taranaki, but spent a great deal of his early life in Nelson. In 1950 he moved to Greymouth in search of what he called an easier life. He has had numerous grants and visited Melbourne and Europe, enriching his painting through experience.

A great deal can be said of his paintings and the exhibition shows his versatility in the field of fine art. There are 83 works in the exhibition ranging from his earlier works of 1936 to the present day works. It is apparent that over the years he has developed a characteristic style, one that is not common to present day New Zealand painters. He is distinctive for his simplicity, his spare, isolated forms and his sheer beauty of colour.