Western Light Art Gallery Keel, Achill, Co. Mayo. Ireland. The Western Light Art Gallery opened in 1989 is the product of innovation and creative endeavour on the part of its owners, Margaret and Sean Cannon. It’s success is ongoing and is evident in the wide variety of images on display. The gallery has become widely know all over the world through the international profile of the Island’s visitors and it’s exposure on the worldwide web and social media.

The Western Light Art Gallery is open all year round and all comers are welcome, young and old. Whether you are an art collector, looking for a special gift, trying to adorn that wall at home or in the office, or simply seeking a sample of what the island of Achill has to offer, feel free to drop in.

We mail work from the gallery worldwide. You can contact Sean or Margaret on +353 (0)98 43325 or e-mail info@achill-island.com .

Margaret and Sean came to live permanently in Achill in 1988. The gallery was formally opened on July 24th. 1989. Achill has a rich cultural heritage and it’s dramatic landscape, coupled with the Cannon Family’s long association with the Island since the mid 1950’s were two of the chief influencing factors in their decision to live on the Island. Based on the Sandbanks in Keel Village, Sean’s keen photographic eye and Margaret’s astute marketing and business skills combined to establish the Island’s only permanent art gallery at that time.

The exhibitions were originally photographic, however after a couple of years the gallery expanded to include other artistic mediums to form a broad range of styles that can now be viewed at the gallery’s annual group exhibition. All pieces are either of, or inspired by, the Island. You will find photography, oils, watercolours, acrylics, etchings, lithographs, sculptures in bronze and stone and limited edition gicleé prints produced by Sean in the gallery’s print room. With such variety on show a visit to the gallery is a must. It hosts the most extensive and eclectic range of images based on Achill that is available anywhere.

The gallery’s portfolio consists of local, national, and foreign artists, including John Behan (R.H.A.), Alexandra Van Tuyll, Shane Cannon (B.A. Fine Art), Padraig McCaul, Alex McKenna, Anna St. George, Peter Hall, Anne-Marie McInerney, Claire Siobhan Walsh and Sean Cannon’s own images, covering 25 years of work observing the Achill landscape. All Sean Cannon’s work is printed and framed by him to the highest standards. His print studio in Achill produces the highest quality Giclée prints to internationally recognised archival standards. In keeping with Achill’s cultural heritage, the gallery has hosted various individual, group and theme orientated exhibitions over the last 24 years.

The gallery is in a most appropriate location. It is just five minutes walk from the original lodgings used by Ireland’s most renowned landscape artist, Paul Henry, during his time on the Island. Across the road from that you can see the house where the Nobel Prize winning author, Heinrich Böll and his family, stayed when they came in the beginning to live in Achill during the fifties. His son, René Böll, has exhibited at the gallery. Robert Henri, the artist, and writer Graham Green used to stay in the nearby village of Dooagh. We are celebrating the Centenary of his arrival in Achill this year. The historical cultural map of Achill is rich and today it is no less so, with many eminent creative minds being inspired by this environment in photography, painting, writing, music, sculpture and many other media. Sean and Margaret Cannon look forward to many more years encouraging and promoting images of Achill through both the family gallery in Keel and internationally on the web.

Sean Cannon has worked as a photographer since the mid-seventies. He worked for many years as a commercial photographer producing product photography mainly in furniture, electronics and the commercial transport industry. He started his own in-house photographic print processing in 1977 for both colour and black and white print production. Sean co-founded the Irish Photographic Federation. He was a founder member of the first Arts Co-ordinating Committee in Co. Monaghan and managed the establishment of The Belbroid Photographic Centre in Monaghan which brought Irelands first dedicated Centre for Photography into existence. He has also been a long time member of The Irish Professional Photographers Association. During the eighties he gave the adult education photographic courses for the Vocational Education Committee (VEC). He spent many years during the eighties as a photographic competitions adjudicator for the Irish Photographic Federation. Following the move to Achill Island The Western Light Art Gallery was opened primarily to promote Sean’s landscape photography. Sean has exhibited at the Foxford Woollen Mills, Monaghan Library exhibition space, Aer Rianta exhibitions in Dublin, Cork and Galway, The Linen Hall, Castlebar and his work has been shown in Clevland, Ohio as well as published in many publications. His images are permanently exhibited at the gallery in Keel. He is self taught in both the art and the science of photography as well as fine art Giclée printing and was awarded the qualification of Licentiate by both the Irish Photographic Federation and the Irish Professional Photographers Association. Sean has also been awarded Ireland’s top landscape photographic award, the ESB Professional Environmental Photographer of the year award. His work is in private collections all over the world and has also had work purchased for the Mayo County Council Art Collection in. The Art Management Office of the OPW has approved six landscape works for the Government Art Asset Register 2007. The Belgian Government sponsored literary arts publication “Contes Fantastique” Prix Littraire National 2000, choose one of his images for the cover of their publication of the winning short stories. His work has been presented to many dignitaries including President Mary Robinson. Sean prints all his own limited editions for the gallery and for export including his work for private commissions.

Sean & Margaret and their family would like to extend a sincere thank you to all those in Achill and abroad and all Achill’s many dedicated visitors who have supported the gallery over all the years.