Tate Adams lives in Townsville and his more recent work reflects his interest in the natural flora of the dry tropics. Palms and pandanus have long been subjects in his work. At this stage of his career Adams is stripping away the unessentials and producing strong, elemental images.

Adams is an important benefactor to Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, gifting both his own work and that of Australian printmakers. The gallery has the most comprehensive collection of his work.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) recently honoured Tate Adams with a retrospective exhibition. Adams established the Diploma of Printmaking at RMIT in the 60s and taught there for 22 years. He operated Crossley Gallery (1966 – 1980) a commercial gallery that championed printmaking. Adams continues to exert a positive influence on Australian printmaking.