The studio
In the artist's words
How a piece is made
Four stages-
Days
Looking
Time spent with the animal, or with a lot of photographs of it. Most of what makes a likeness is in the set of the head and the weight on the feet, and neither survives a single snapshot.
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Week 1
Ground
The surface is prepared in the studio and given several thin grounds, so it has enough tooth to hold the paint and enough smoothness to take an eye.
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Weeks 2–8
Building
Worked up and scraped back over several weeks. Most of what goes on comes off again; what stays is the record of that.
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Last
Resting
Turned to the wall for a fortnight. Whatever still looks wrong after that gets another pass. Then it is signed on the reverse.
Exhibitions & press
RecordSolo exhibitions
2026
Tide Lines Solo exhibition — placeholder venue, Galway
2024
Bog Light Solo exhibition — placeholder venue, Clifden
Group exhibitions
2025
Weather Systems Group exhibition — placeholder venue, Dublin
2024
Coastlines Group exhibition — placeholder venue, Cork
Awards
2025
Emerging Painters Award — shortlisted Placeholder award, Ireland
Press
2023
Interview: painting the west Placeholder publication