Neil McAuliffe

Neil McAuliffe is a Cape Cod–born artist trained in illustration at Massachusetts College of Art, known for crisp coastal paintings and place-specific scenes that balance strong structure with approachable atmosphere. After returning to the Cape, he built an early career as a freelance illustrator, creating pen-and-ink and watercolor renderings of homes, boats, businesses, and golf courses. That illustration background still shows in his work today through clean perspective, clear composition, and an ability to simplify a complex scene without losing what makes it recognizable.

In 1991, McAuliffe was commissioned to paint a series of aerial views of prominent locations that were published and sold in limited editions, including subjects such as Augusta National Golf Course, Pebble Beach Golf Links, Harvard University, and the villages of Hyannisport and Osterville. He later spent several years living and painting in the Caribbean and continues to return for inspiration, with commissions connected to resort and regional clients and subjects ranging from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to Bermuda and Key West. For the past 15 years he has worked primarily in oils, applying the clarity of his illustration roots to paintings that lean more fully into light, color, and atmosphere. ×