It is out of a physical and spiritual connection to the landscape that I paint. The sense of journey arouses my imagination, inspiring me to recall memories and emotions which I interpret into visual storytelling. Being Irish, I am a storyteller at heart and take inspiration from the great Irish poets such as John O’Donohue and Seamus Heaney. I am rooted in my spiritual heritage and recognise the significance of pilgrimage within my life and work.
Through the physical act of walking, I am reminded of the many layers of history beneath my feet, stories of man and nature journeying through space and time. It is this sense of interconnectedness of man, nature, and history that I represent within the layers of my paint. The spontaneous and intuitive abstract marks laid down in the present, journeying towards an untold story of the future. Because when I start a painting, I rarely know its destination, we walk the process together, my knowledge dancing in a form of communication with the painted surface, leading me towards the realisation of the final image and revealing the deep meaningful message it has to offer.
Biography (B. 1973)
1995 University of Ulster, BA (Hons Fine Art)
Group Shows
2021 Waterstone House, Aberlady, Scotland (3 person show)
2021 Nottingham City Artists Studio Exhibition, St. Mary’s, Nottingham
2021 Artists for Conservation, Vancouver. (Virtual Exhibit)
2021 Finalist, David Shepherd Artist of the Year
2020 Artists for Conservation, Vancouver (Virtual Exhibit)
2019 Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London
2018 Society of Wildlife Artists, Mall Galleries, London
2017 Artists for Conservation, Marine Exhibition Tour, Florida & China
2017 Artists and Illustrators Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2009 Society of Animal Artists, Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Kansas
2009 Dunnegan Gallery of Art, MO, Ward Museum of Wildfowl, MD
2008 Birds in Art, Leigh Yawkey Musuem, Wisconsin
2008 Society of Animal Artists, The Neville Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin
2008 Artists for Conservation, The Art of Conservation, Hiram Blauvelt Museum, New Jersey, USA
2007 The Wildlife Experience, Parker, Denver, CO
2002 Four portraits, Ulster Museum Collection
Solo Exhibitions
2012 Solo exhibition, WWT Art gallery, N.Ireland
2010 Solo exhibition, WWT Art Gallery, N.Ireland
2000 N.Ireland Television personalities, sporting legends, business leaders and politicians
Awards/Special achievements
2021 Best Abstract/interpretative painting, Artists for Conservation, Vancouver
2021 Finalist in BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year
2018 John Busby Bursary Award, Society Wildlife Artists
2015 Featured artist in N.Ireland television production
2013 Invited artist,Artists for Conservation Scuba Dive Pilot Expedition, Cayman Islands
2011 Master Artists Seminar with Robert Bateman, Cortes Island, Vancouver Island
2011 Featured artist in BBC Wild Week Live Television production: Live broadcast art demonstration
2008 Image selected to be the design of the cover of Artists for Conservation Exhibition show book
2008 Featured artist in RTE Nationwide Television production, Ireland