Fitzbillies Café will play host to ‘Quintessentially Cambridge’, a solo exhibition of new oil paintings by CDS member Naomi Tomkys OBE. Running from 12th September to 8th December 2025, the show is free to attend and promises an evocative, painterly stroll through the textures, landmarks, and small joys of everyday life in Cambridge.

With her distinctive style and vivid storytelling, Tomkys captures scenes both iconic and intimate. The bustle of Fitzbillies’ famous counters, languid punting along the Cam, the satin draped May Ball queues, the silent majesty of the Fitzwilliam Museum and the warm glow of The Burleigh Arms.

The exhibition also includes tender tributes to Cambridge’s cultural and community touchstones. From the dinosaur-loving children at the Sedgwick Museum to the collective hush as a film starts at the Picturehouse. A painting of the Tommy Dann memorial rugby match highlights Tomkys’ ability to blend nostalgia, movement, and local memory.

Born in London and trained at Central St. Martins, Naomi Tomkys now lives and works in Cambridgeshire. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally from The Mall Gallery, London, and held in collections in Paris, Chicago, Kuwait, Dubai, LA and several Cambridge Colleges. Tomkys was recently selected for the Florence Biennale 2025 and won an Artboxy award to show at Swissartexpo 2025.

“These paintings are a love letter to the city,” says Tomkys. “From Chelsea buns to curried lamb, punt poles to silver screens, Quintessentially Cambridge celebrates the overlooked rhythms and pleasures that make this place endlessly rich and alive.”

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or a first-time visitor, this exhibition invites you to see Cambridge through fresh eyes full of warmth, wit, and painterly wonder.

 Exhibition Details:

Quintessentially Cambridge by Naomi Tomkys OBE

Fitzbillies, 15 King’s Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SP

12th September – 8th December 2025

8am-6pm weekdays, 8:30am-6pm weekends.

Free Entry

You can find more about the exhibition at: https://tomkys.com/recent-work

The Tommy Dann Cup – Naomi Tomkys

Main Image: Kirsty’s Cake Counter – Naomi Tomkys