Artist Statement
I seek moments of stillness, joy and beauty in the Irish landscape. Having lived most of my life in the North of Ireland, I only discovered a deep appreciation for my Irish heritage once I left the country. In 2024 I returned, and now spend much of my time seeking and taking notice of the precious moments that help nurture that sense of belonging and home.
Working outdoors, I paint for long periods of time in the one location. I am often stopped in my tracks by the light and atmosphere of a place or by the strength of its structure or composition. However my approach is never hurried, others around have noted how I can spend as much time speaking with locals as I do painting. I love people and the land. Both have stories to tell and bring restoration and healing.
Giving time allows me to find an inner peace and sense of wonder. From this inner landscape, I respond to what I see. Somehow painting in this way gives me hope, and helps me imagine how beauty and joy
ARTIST STATEMENT
MY JOURNEY
My journey in art began with a strong foundation in realism, shaped through drawing portraits, still life and wildlife. For many years, I was drawn to the discipline and skill involved in creating a ‘perfect’ image, but over time that pursuit became exhausting and unfulfilling. After three years away from drawing and painting, I found my way back through play — exploring colour, marks and materials with a renewed sense of freedom.
That shift was transformational, not only for my own practice but in the way I understood creativity itself. Through abstraction, expressionism and extensive colour studies, I began to see art as something more open and accessible — a pathway into connection for people who may feel on the edges. My work now returns again and again to the belief that art should have purpose: to bring hope, build community and inspire others to discover their own sense of freedom.
BIOGRAPHY
1995 BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of Ulster, Belfast
2018 Level 3 City & Guilds Award in Education & Training, Loughborough College
2022 Journey of Hope Alumni, Immersive leadership Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, St Ethelburga’s, London
Awards/Residencies
2023 Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year, Main Contestant
2023 Public Art Commission, Ards Hospital, N.Ireland
2023 Shackleton Residency Award, Falkland Islands
2022 Winner of Parker Harris Mentoring Award & exhibition award
2021 Best Abstract/interpretative painting in show, Artists for Conservation, Vancouver
2021 Finalist in BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year, London
2018 John Busby Drawing Bursary Award, Society of Wildlife Artists, London
2015 Featured artist in N.Ireland television production
2013 Invited artist for Scuba Dive Art Expedition to Cayman Islands, Artists for Conservation
2011 Master Artists Seminar, Cortes Island, Vancouver Island
2011 Featured artist in BBC Wild Week Live Television production: Live broadcast art demonstration
2008 Selected to represent front cover of Artists for Conservation Exhibition international showbook
2008 Featured artist in RTE Nationwide Television production, Ireland
Group Shows
2022 Harley Open, Harley Gallery, Wellbeck, Nottinghamshire
2022 TALP Open, Patchings Art Centre, Nottingham
2021 Waterston House, Aberlady, Scotland (3 person show)
2021 Nottingham City Artists Studio Exhibition, St Marys, 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 in Florida & China
2017 Artists and Illustrators Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2009 Society of Animal Artists, Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Kansas,
2009 Artists for Conservation, 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
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
Significant Private & Public Collections
2008 Private collector of internationally recognised wildlife collection, New York (5 paintings)
2000 Ulster Museum, Belfast (4 paintings)
1997 Northern Ireland Civil Service, Belfast
1995 Northern Ireland Civil Service, Belfast