[6] After graduating from art school Fomison went to work as an archaeological assistant at the Canterbury Museum then under the directorship of Roger Duff.

Fomison took part in a major survey of Māori rock art in South Canterbury and contributed to the archive with drawings, notes and tracings recording over 300 sites.

[7] A photo of Fomison in 1969 standing next to one of his cave drawing tracings is held in the Christchurch Star Archives.

[8] The same year Fomison used the rock drawings as an inspiration for his cover illustration for the literary magazine Landfall.

From that time, his work was influenced by Polynesian culture, including attempts to help revive the skill of traditional Tā moko tattooing.

[15] Regretably by 2007 high insurance costs meant the mural had to be sold[16] and is now in the collection of the Auckland Art Gallery 1963 Awarded an Arts Advisory Board grant to travel to England and Europe[17] 1985 Fomison was the inaugural recipient of the Rita Angus Residency.