Artist Statement
My current body of work focuses on the rural landscapes of the west of Ireland, I am interested in the spaces that are left to the elements, uncultivated land, overgrown and wild but also rich in wildlife. The notion of finding the ethereal elements within these landscapes is my current challenge and as a painter I am fascinated in the relationship between finding my own solitude within the landscape while also trying to understand the historical meaning of the sublime in landscape painting.
As part of this area of interest I am also fascinated in the reality of the “Commons in Society” and the connection between the moral responsibilities of the community towards the landscape. The ownership of parks, greens, lanes, walkways and rural areas that is open to the public. My current area of research also extends to an enquiry into traditional drawing and painting of the landscape, in particular the idea and notion of romantics within the rural landscape. Areas of continued interest include movements such as German romanticism painting, In particular my work is influenced by paintings “Monasty in the Graveyard In Snow (1819) and The Abbey in The Oakwood (1810) by Fredrick, other influences include the work of Albert Bierstadt and English artist John Martin. The recurring theme within my work focuses on notions of disillusion with materialism, return to the natural world, death, destruction and resurrection.
The choice of aluminium as a medium in which to paint on is deliberate one, although this material is not one of traditional use I find its coldness and dampness a direct connection to the landscapes and subjects I choose to paint, the aluminium also enables me as an artist to show the process of painting i.e. brushstrokes, additional liquids each work is very much unique as the experimental development can very much change with each painting.
Education
MA in Visual Arts Practices, IADT, 2009
BA Hon’s Fine Art, Institute of Technology, Sligo. 2001
Work experience
Instructor, NLN Carrick on Shannon
Art Tutor, Home Youth Liaison Service, Sligo Town.
Adult Art Facilitator, Sligo VEC, Sligo
Art Tutor, School completion programme 2001- 2004
Memberships
Visual Artists Ireland, Artists Forum, The Model Arts and Niland Gallery, The Sculpture
Centre, Manorhamilton
Solo shows
2018
"Beyond The Stile" SolArtGallery. Dublin
“The Ethereal Space” Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
2017
“Beyond the Plains” Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, Co Clare
“In pursuit of Stillness” Cairde Visual Award Show, Hydebridge Gallery, Sligo
“Hinterland” Chimera Gallery, Mullingar, Co Westmeath
2015
“The land is Ours” Solo show Luan Gallery Athlone, Co Westmeath
2010
“Successful flaws” Selected by Patrick T Murphy. Roscommon Arts Centre, Roscommon
2007
“The Drawing Man” , The Alley Arts Centre, Strabane, Co Tyrone.
Group shows
2018
138th RUA awards, Ulster Museum, Belfast
"Identity" Westival Gallery, Westport Co.Mayo
Cairde Visual, The Model Centre, Sligo.
"The Gathering" Kings House, Boyle Co Roscommon
Art Source, RDS, Dublin. SolArtGallery
"Antiques and Art Fair" RDS, Dublin, Ireland (Sol Art)
"An Irish Air man forsees his death, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo.
AAF Manchester. (Solart)
2017
AAF Battersea, Solartgallery, Dublin
AAF Hamstead, Solartgallery, Dublin
Antiques and Art Fair, RDS, Dublin
Cairde Visual, Model Arts Centre, Sligo
Art Source, Solart Dublin
137th RUA Awards 2017, Ulster Museum, Belfast
“Crazy Jane” Invited Artists, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
“Nine Walls” Hydebridge Gallery, Sligo
VUE RHA Dublin, eight gallery, Dublin.
2016
"RDS Art Source, November RDS, Dublin.
"Invited Artists" December, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo.
"RUA Awards" Ulster Museum, Belfast
"Invited Artists" Dec 2016, Hamilton Gallery, Sligo
"Antiques and Art Fair" RDS, Dublin, Ireland (Sol Art)
"AAF Bristol" Bristol, United Kingdom. (Sol Art)
"Seeing is believing" Solart Gallery, Dublin
"Cairde Visual" Hyde Bridge Gallery, Sligo
"North by NorthWest" Kings House, Boyle Arts Festival
Charlestown Arts Centre, New Horizons, Co Mayo
2015
“Winters Poem” Hyde Bridge Gallery, Sligo
Edinburgh Art Fair, Cornmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland
134th RUA Show, Ulster Museum, Belfast
“Land-escape” Hawkswell Arts Space, Hawkswell Sligo,2 person show
(Upcoming) Chimera Gallery, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.
2014
North West Artists, Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Co, Leitrim
Cairde Open, Hyde Bridge Gallery. Sligo
2013
Iontas Art Gallery, Co Monaghan, 2 person show
New Enviroments, Ballina Arts Centre. 2 person show
Altered State, Joust Gallery, London.
2012
Drawing Connections, Sienna Art Institute, Sienna, Italy.
2011
“CCA RDS” curate by Helen Carey
“Alter/native project” Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle Co. Roscommon
“Corporate Republic” Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim.
2009
“Public Gesture” The Lab exhibition space, Foley Street, Dublin
“Show” Sycamore Gallery, Templebar, Dublin
“White noise” Studio six, Templebar galleries and studio space
Collections/Purchases
Sparkhase Bank, Germany, Bank of Ireland, Leitrim County Council, OPW, Chimera Gallery, Private
Collections throughout USA, Australia, Ireland, UK and Europe.
Bursaries
Leitrim County Council 2007/2008/2010/2011/2013/2015/2017
Residency Awards
Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton, Studio Award
Model Arts Centre, Residency Award 2017
Currently hold a studio with the LSC in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim