Neil Hoogstraten

Cornelius "Neil" Hoogstraten was a Canadian painter and commercial artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Born in Winnipeg to Dutch immigrant parents, he received his formal artistic training at the Winnipeg School of Art, which he attended from 1927 to 1928 and again from 1929 to 1935. This period of study coincided with the early development of the regional art scene in Manitoba.

In his professional career, Hoogstraten operated a successful commercial art business. Initially established in partnership with Victor Peter Friesen in 1956, the firm provided artistic services for several decades until Hoogstraten's retirement in 1982. Alongside his commercial work, he maintained a lifelong commitment to representational painting, often focusing on rural landscape scenes and nature-inspired subjects.

Hoogstraten was a significant figure in the organized art community of Manitoba. He was a longtime member of the Winnipeg Sketch Club and served as the President of the Manitoba Society of Artists from 1966 to 1969. His contributions to these organizations helped support the growth of local art exhibition opportunities and professional standards within the province.

Throughout his adult life, Hoogstraten was an active participant in regional exhibitions, including the "Fresh Art" shows at the Forum Art Centre in Winnipeg. His work, particularly his prints of rural landscapes, is held in numerous private and institutional collections within the Winnipeg area. In 2001, he relocated to Toronto, Ontario, where he lived until his death in 2003.