“Father of Miniature Paintings” Nelson Castillo is an internationally renowned Filipino artist, who was born in Alaminos Laguna on April 11, 1944. Nelson is married to Lucita Banuelos Castillo, a native from Victoria, Laguna In 1964, Nelson received his degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomasian manila. He began painting miniatures in 1968 and was noted as the “Father of Miniature Painting” in 1979 here in the Philippines. In the same year February6, his First One-Man Show of miniature paintings at the Manila Peninsula Hotel Fine Arts Gallery was amazingly sold out. Mr. Castillo migrated to U.S In 1981and continued his painting career. He joined several Asian and American Art Associations in southern California.

He teaches art lessons and painting demonstrations in different art associations in the south bay area that led to his election as vice president of the San Pedro Art by the Sea Art Association in 1995. His paintings are in the collection of Hollywood celebrities like Persis Khambatta, the former Miss India who starred in the box office hit film “Star Trek the motion picture”, singer Al Stewart (“year of the cat”), Bob Parkinson and Andrew Friendly (top rated Hollywood producers and writers), and Bernie Wayne (composer of the song “Miss America”) in the Philippines, there are the likes of celebrity Boots Anson Roa, General Alfredo Montoya, Manuel Duldulao, Linda Panlilio and Dr. Rogelio Mendiola. His paintings grace prestigious hotels like the Manila Peninsula, Philippine Village, Holiday Inn, Hilton and the Silahis Hotel. This Multi-Awarded and talented artist is being honored with the “Artist of the Year” award at the Virgo Awards last November2000, Pamana awards last October 2002 and Reflections XIV in November 2002 in California. Currently, he has more than 100 plus awards and recognitions from different local and national art competitions, Nelson has been generating serious interest among collectors in the art scene via sixteen (16) highly successful solo shows in different galleries and presently in Galerie Joaquin and had almost 100 plus group exhibits here and abroad. Last July of 2011, Nelson Castillo was interviewed and showed his miniature paintings in GMA's television show Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho's episode “Small World”. He was also interviewed and televised in Vicky Morales GMA's Channel 11 news tv show “Good News” episode “Ang mga small but terrible na mga bagay” and recently with his son Janddie Castillo on GMA7 Drew Arellanos morning show AHA! “Small but Terrible” paintings episode and TV5 Joey De Leon Hayop sa Galing! show last June and July of 2013. Nelson and his son Janddie was featured again in their miniature masterpiece last march of 2015 at Derek Ramsey tv5 show extreme series kaya moto!. Nelson and his new abstract works with miniature also featured last december 2016 on ABS-CBN2 Matang lawin Show hosted by Kuya Kim Atienza. In 2019,he also featured his miniature masterpieces in TFC Channel of ABS-CBN“Obra”.