Toss Woollaston (1910-1998) is regarded as one of the founders of 20^th century modern painting in New Zealand.  He was born in Toko, Taranaki in 1910 and decided be become an artist at age five, despite his mother's cautioning that "artists always starve". While living and working for a year in Riwaka he saw his first exhibition - the Suter Art Society's Spring Exhibition of 1928 at The Suter Art Gallery.  He returned to Nelson to live in 1930 and remained until 1950. 

During the early 1930s he received tuition in Nelson from Hugh Scott who lived at Ruby Bay and later attended the Canterbury School of Art for two terms.  He also travelled to Dunedin to study with the English painter Robert Nettleton Field (1899-1987).  Field’s colleague, William Allen (1894-1988) took the post of drawing master at Nelson College in 1933 and provided support and instruction to Woollaston during this decade.  The greatest artistic experience of his life came, however, in Nelson in 1934 when he met Flora Scales (1887-1985) who had studied in Munich with the great teacher Hans Hoffmann (1880-1986). The ideas she imparted about space construction in painting were to form the basis of Woollaston's mature style.  This year was also the first mention of the artist in the records of the Nelson Suter Art Society as an exhibiting member.

In 1935 Woollaston became a member of The Group in Christchurch and exhibited with them for many years.  He left Nelson in 1950 for Greymouth where he took a job as a salesman but continued to paint between sales.    A grant from the Association of New Zealand Art Societies in 1958 enabled him to travel to Australia.  A further grant in 1960 allowed him to paint full-time for half a year.  In 1961 he received a New Zealand Arts Council travel grant to visit galleries in Europe and the United States.  Upon his return, he had his first solo exhibition at The Suter Art Gallery followed by an exhibition at Chez Eelco in 1964.  Throughout, he continued to participate in the Nelson Suter Art Society Spring and Autumn exhibitions. 

In the mid-1960s, Woollaston was selected for a series of modern painting exhibitions at the Auckland Art Gallery which confirmed his reputation as a leading New Zealand artist.  In 1968 he returned to Riwaka and the large studio oils he made there are recognised as this most important works.  A touring retrospective developed by Luit Bieringa at the Manawatu Art Gallery in 1973 was the final seal of approval.  In recognition of a lifetime's dedication to art he received a knighthood in 1979 and was the first artist to be recognised by the New Zealand Government in this way.