Hi, I’m Neil Eckerlsey. A Olympian Martial Artist turned Contemporary Abstract Artist thriving in Great Britain.

A Olympic Judo bronze medallist is turning his hands to gentler skills and making moves in the world of contemporary abstract art. Born and raised in Salford, Manchester UK. Neil Eckersley was Britain’s leading extra-lightweight Judo player for a decade, winning his bronze at the Los Angeles games of 1984. He coached the National Junior men’s team for many years. Today, Neil is still actively involved with the sport of Judo at all levels.

But recently he has gone back to another love of his and is taking a firm grip on the art world with a stunning portfolio of new works being showcased all over the world. Neil has had exhibitions in Manchester, Leeds, Norway, Paris, Hong Kong, Budapest, Baku, Tokyo, Lausanne, Beijing.

Neil, now living in Lancaster UK Neil explains how his love of art began, saying: “I grew up in a working class area, which explains why I wanted to learn how to look after myself - but the art came from a need to express myself and give an outlet for my creative urges. I’d always had a problem with the written word because of my dyslexia but found painting to be the perfect way to express emotions and things I wanted to put across’’.

“I still travel quite extensively with martial arts and always have an eye on interesting new subjects to represent in my abstract work. It is an exciting area to explore and requires a different kind of discipline – but it is something I really enjoy and in which I’m getting a fair bit of interest.”

— Neil Eckersley

EXHIBITIONS, INTERVIEWS, PUBLICATIONS.

PARIS OLYMPIC Games, Exhibition IJF Gala Hôtel Potocki, 2024
BBC Radio Lancashire Paris Olympics 2024
STIR WORLD Online Magazine, 2024
H.O.P.E. The Priory Church, Lancaster Exhibition, 2024
‘ I know You’re In There”. Defining Dementia. Exhibition , 2023
The World Art News, IJF, Lancaster Guardian, BBC online news, Jo’s Art History Podcast, 2023
“It’s a laughing matter”. The old red bus station. Exhibition, Leeds 2022
Light up Lancaster festival, Exhibition Lancaster 2022
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, Webinar Lausanne Switzerland 2022.
Olympian Artists-in-Residence at Olympic Agora Beijing Exhibition 2022
Collaboration with Roger A Joys Michelin Star Sushi Chef 2021. Provided Art work for his new concept Restaurant Sabi- Enzo Stavanger Norway
International Judo Federation, Tokyo. Exhibition 2019
International Judo Federation, Baku. Exhibition ,2018
International Judo Federation, Budapest Exhibition,2017
Hong Kong Exhibition 2016
Paris, Exhibition, 2107
Galleri Musengaten, Stavanger, Norway Exhibition 2017
L.A Pedersen, Bryne,Norway, 2016
Kristianhuset, Kleppe, Norway 2016
The Storey Gallery, Lancaster. UK 2015
Artwork on loan and presently being exhibited in Optima Performance Clinic, London. Sol Restaurant, Stavanger, Sumo Restaurant, Stavanger, Egget Restaurant, Stavanger and Sabi Enso Restaurant (new concept by Roger Asakil Joya , Michelin Star Sushi Chef), Stavanger, Norway.
Neil is member of Art of the Olympians (AOTO).
Neil has contributed and collaborated to ‘Voicing Silence’ 2020. This was funded by Manchester Museum.
Profile articles in a variety of publications in ‘Time Out’, TVB, Commercial Daily, Hong Kong, Judo Quarterly and a variety of website publications.