Fine Artist - Contemporary Landscapes
CurrentI paint outdoors and from my studio in the heart of Cork City where I also run painting workshops and one-to-one painting and creativity coaching. Please note: Studio visits by appointment. Although abstract in form, my work is most usually described as landscape - as the works capture the essence and emotional significance I attach to a place or time. While my influences are broad, my work is largely concerned with the natural world and our place in it. Since moving back to Ireland in 2008, I have made bodies of work in response to the landscape - in the Kerry Gaeltacht ('Ballads to the Bog'), the Mayo Lakes (May 2011) and throughout the country - most recently in 'Land of Plenty' (Origin, March 2010) – a celebration of the abundance of our land in spite of recession. I have also created bodies of work overseas - in Southern Italy (Sept. 2010) and Mexico (Oct – Nov. 2009). My 'Mexican Odyssey' - a body of work made while camping in the Baja Desert toured Ireland last year - initially premiering at The Mexican Embassy of Ireland (September 2011) with an opening by Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD – Minister for Arts, Heritage & The Gaeltacht - before touring to Origin Gallery in Dublin (October 2011) and University College Cork (November 2011). The scale of my work tends to range from very small works on paper to large loquacious pieces created 'en plein air'. My methodology, while not entirely rigid, will usually involve creating the bones of larger piece on the flat outdoors with inks and heavy body acrylics before stretching the piece back at the studio and introducing extensive layers of volumious oils.
