Padraig McCaul works in oils, using brushes and palette knives. For some paintings, particularly land and seascapes, He works quickly, always aiming to capture a spontaneity and freshness in his work. His work on buildings or clusters of quiet houses, take more time as he builds layer upon layer of paint. 

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