Self Portrait 2010-13
Title; Si Legere Volui, ad Scholum Iturum (Latin: If I wanted to Read, I'd Go to School)
I was born in Dublin, Ireland and continue to live and work here. I grew up in Finglas, a suburb on the city's north side, which was an amazing laboratory of adventure for an enquiring mind like mine. Just 200 meters from my hall door began the fields and hedgrows of North County Dublin where I climbed trees, dammed ditches and observed nature. Finglas fed my curiosity for all things scientific, including physics, zoology and anthroplogy.
During the 1970s and onwards, the raw energy and basic melodies of Punk influenced the style and content of my work, particularly the use of collage. And like everyone else at the time I was in a band. We were called The Next Five Years. We did about 20 gigs in 2 years and broke up. I then put all my energy into art.
As a mature student I graduated from UCD, having read History of Art and then Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in 2006. Prior to this I was self-taught as a painter and have been exhibiting since I was seventeen years old. Students are not actually taught how to draw or paint in art college. There is an emphasis on theory and research and if one needs to learn how to paint one must find out how oneself. Fortunately I had developed my skills before entering college and further augmented them there.
Since graduating, I have been a full-time artist and I teach painting classes in NCAD and Art History in local schools.
During the 1970s and onwards, the raw energy and basic melodies of Punk influenced the style and content of my work, particularly the use of collage. And like everyone else at the time I was in a band. We were called The Next Five Years. We did about 20 gigs in 2 years and broke up. I then put all my energy into art.
As a mature student I graduated from UCD, having read History of Art and then Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in 2006. Prior to this I was self-taught as a painter and have been exhibiting since I was seventeen years old. Students are not actually taught how to draw or paint in art college. There is an emphasis on theory and research and if one needs to learn how to paint one must find out how oneself. Fortunately I had developed my skills before entering college and further augmented them there.
Since graduating, I have been a full-time artist and I teach painting classes in NCAD and Art History in local schools.
Left, myself painting away in my tiny studio. The picture is 'Howth Junction' (sold)
