About Me
Always creative since a child it’s not surprising I carried on the tradition of painting considering both my grandfather and father were sign-writers back in the day. For as long as I can remember, I always had paint and craft sets from my parents – who encouraged me all the way to art college in Dublin.
While at art college, my family moved to the UK. This great change in my life brought many different challenges but I knew I was going to remain in Ireland, as it was ‘Home’.
‘Home’ – I was drawn back to Liscannor in West Clare where my mother is from and had the pleasure of spending time with my grandfather Mick, while my family were away. These times had a very important influence on the direction of my art. The old stories from Mick, of times gone by and of how much living in such a beautiful place meant to him, fascinated me. Each morning when the carer would arrive, I took the opportunity to take long walks along the Clare coastline. Clahane was a favourite and I would return to him with photos and chat about, “Gods Country” as he described it. Of course painting “Gods Country” was to become the beginning of the wonderful road ahead.
I continue to paint from my gallery/studio – Atlantic Way Gallery- which I opened in 2017 on the main street, Liscannor, West Clare…I was finally ‘Home’. Drawn to the movement of the roaring waves of the Atlantic, evening sunsets and dramatic seascapes, I paint with thick impasto oil paint with various palette knives. I have always loved texture and passionately load paint on the waves to almost fall off the canvas. There is no question I love to paint moody seas and capture the beautiful reality of the evening light and contrast the light and darkness of the ever changing skies and seas.
I want the viewer to feel and smell the drama of these seas; to create the desire to touch the ocean.
Everyday as I walk with my dogs on the beach or down in Clahane along the flaggy rock pools I am surrounded by the beauty of ‘God’s Country’, the Atlantic coastline and have constant inspiration.
My studio and gallery is on the Wild Atlantic Way set in the beautiful village of Liscannor between Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher and you are welcome to come visit and view in person, have a chat and a little dog cuddle.