My journey

I circled back to my love of art in the past few years as a way to reconnect with the beautiful Irish landscapes around me and take time for myself. Spending time in the landscape I gather reference photos, always seeking the light. Sometimes I just have an interest in a particular snippet of the land, or corner of a field, not knowing what draws me to it until I see it one day in a certain light and it can sing to me.

Coming back to my studio I begin with a complementary underpainting of pastel and alcohol washes and continue to build up in soft pastel, charcoal and further washes. Almost every piece goes through a struggle midway where I battle between the initial love for what I saw, the zest to capture it, and the progress in front of me. They all seem to make it to the other side….

I studied fine art printmaking in Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) in the 90’s and then parked my practice as I created a family and a new career in finance and start-up businesses. A few years back I began training with a local artist in acrylic and oil but more recently fell in love with soft pastels. I adore the vibrancy and immediacy of this medium and just love using my hands and fingers to get the textures and hues of the subject onto paper.

On my walks now, my eye continuously maps out the land around me in shapes, colours and light values. Now that I have re-awoken that part of my heart, it is impossible to ignore.

I hope you also find joy in these Irish landscapes.