[1] Tomkins was engaged as drawing-master to the daughters of George III, and spent time at court, receiving the appointment of historical engraver to the queen.

3. c. lxi) authorising him to dispose by lottery of the collection of watercolour drawings from which his engravings were executed, together with unsold impressions of the plates, together valued at £150,000.

[1] Tomkins engraved from his own designs some "fancy" subjects as well as some portraits, including those of George III and his daughter, Charlotte, Princess Royal.

Other plates by Tomkins included:[1] Tomkins executed a set of illustrations to Sir James Bland Burgess's poem The Birth and Triumph of Love, from designs by Princess Elizabeth, and two sets of plates from papers cut by Lady Templetown.

His last work was a series of three plates from copies by Harriet Whitshed of paintings discovered at Hampton Court, 1834–40.