I am a figurative artist and portrait painter based in the West of Ireland.
Mount Nephin by the shores of Lough Conn, Co.Mayo, Ireland
I have loved drawing since I was a child and have always been compelled to draw faces.
When I am drawing or painting a portrait, I like to feel my way around a face. It is a process of discovery. My aim is to portray the life that is lived. I try to capture what is seen on the surface of the face and that which is projected from within. It is a challenge to catch that smile in the eyes and the emotions that the sitter inadvertently reveals or attempts to conceal.
I feel that I have succeeded when the painting or drawing pulls the viewer in and there is an emotional connection made. I primarily draw in ink and paint in oils. However, some of my work is in charcoal and acrylic.
Currently, I am painting a series of pictures of people who live and work in the West of Ireland. I also enjoy creating artwork about imagined figures. I find a lot of inspiration from poetry and song, fairy-tales and folklore and I am always striving to convey what I see and feel.