His often large, finely detailed paintings portray nature and urban landscapes, combining aspects of hyper-realism and photo-realism.

The award founder and arts patron Sir James Wallace acquired one of Foley's kinetic paintings entitled Opoho Intersection No.1.

[1][2] Since 2008 he has visited Europe regularly,[3] spending extensive periods of time in Berlin and attending residencies in Norway and Switzerland.

His works can be found in several private and public art collections such as the Dunedin International Airport collection,[4] the Historic Places Trust of New South Wales in Australia, The ASB Bank in Auckland, The Wallace Trust in Auckland,[5] The Central Library and Salmond College in the University of Otago.

At the end of his research tour Foley returned to New Zealand and started experimenting in his studio with video projections onto his paintings.