He studied at the Cignaroli Academy in Verona, where he met Giacomo Manzù and Renato Birolli, in the period 1926–27.
Having moved to Milan, he came into contact with Edoardo Persico, who invited him to exhibit his work at the Galleria del Milione in 1931.
He joined the Corrente group and presented work with them at the Milan Società per le Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente in 1939.
The Venice Biennale devoted a room exclusively to Tomea's work at the 23rd Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte della Città di Venezia in 1942.
His painting concentrated on landscapes of the Cadore area in the post-war years.