He likes to immerse himself in a particular place, walking the beaches, hills and mountains, discovering the views and looking for those special moments when the perfect composition for a painting seems to jump out at you. In my compositions I aim to achieve a harmony between the land, sea and sky.
He carries a sketchbook and camera on his walks. Once back in the studio he uses the photos and sketches as references to begin working the canvas with very rough brush outlines, mapping out the general composition and colour tones with swift brush strokes.The painting is then brought to life with the palette knife using primarily pure unmixed colours which are blended into the canvas or laid on thick.
He says "My work is inspired and influenced by the classic Irish landscape paintings of Paul Henry and Roderic O’Connor, as well as contemporary artists such as Donald Teskey. My use of strong, vibrant colours to describe my Irish landscapes has been inspired by the French artists, Cezanne and Claude Idlas. My colours come from what I see, sometimes exaggerated in order to bring out the life and energy in the landscapes and seas'.
solo exhibitions
Still Lives - The Heritage Centre, Dalkey, Co.Dublin 2012
Still Lives – The Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford 2012
Sentinels – The Doorway Gallery, Dublin 2011
COAST – Dalkey Heritage Centre, Dublin, 2010
Landscapes – The Market House Arts Centre, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford 2010
The Light Of Which I Speak, The Bad Art Gallery, Dublin 2009
Living Colours, Cork and Kerry, The Hungry Hill Gallery, Adrigole, Co.Cork 2007
From Clare to Here. Lahinch Art Gallery, Lahinch,Co.Clare 2007
The West of Ireland - Land, Sea and Sky, The Hungry Hill Gallery, Adrigole, Cork 2006
The Blue Loft Gallery, Dublin 2007 (2 person show with Axel Rothoux)
selected group shows
Affordable Art Fair, London - 2011, 2012
Wexford FRINGE, Whites Hotel 2009, 2010, 2011
RDS Art Fair, 2009, 2010, 2011
Art Ireland Spring Collection, Dublin 2007, 2008, 2009,
Art Ireland, RDS, Dublin 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Fine Art Ireland, Belfast, 2009, 2010
Red Rag Gallery, Gloucestershire, UK 2008 - 2011
The Blue Loft Gallery, Dublin 2007, 2008, 2009
The Bad Art Gallery, Dublin 2007, 2008, 2009
Lahinch Art Gallery, Co.Clare, 2008, 2009, 2010
Clifden Art Gallery, Connemara, 2009, 2010
Dalkey Arts Gallery, Dublin 2008
ScotlandArt.com, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2007,2008
The Hungry Hill Gallery, Cork, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Christmas Group Show, Munster Fine Art gallery, 2006, 2007
Spring/Summer Show, Western Light Art Gallery, Keel, Achill, Co. Mayo, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Summer Show, OSB Gallery, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow 2005
Art on the Green, Stephen’s Green , Dublin 2005
collections
Embassy of Cyprus, Washington, USA
Embassy of France, Dublin, Ireland
private collections – Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, USA.
media
Ohio Iriish American News, 2011 - Cover and Feature Article
RTE Nationwide, 2010 – Featured artist on Irish national TV show
The Dubliner Magazine, 2011 – Review of solo exhibition “Sentinels”
artist residencies
Heinrich Boll Cottage, Achill – 2007
