BIO
After many years taking part in amateur painting classes, I felt the need to expand my painting skills and attended on a part time basis the Art and Portfolio Course with Simon Rainsford in DIFE Drogheda Institute Of Further Education. My appetite to learn more expanded and grew that after 2 years at DIFE I applied for the full time Foundation Art and Design Course in the Institute Of Further Education, Newry Co Down, Northern Ireland. On this foundation course I was introduced to other mediums of creativity such as Ceramics, Print and Sculpture, and it was during that year I knew that this was the path I wanted to follow and decided to go the full hog and apply to Art College. I got accepted to Duncan Of Jordanstone College Of Art and Design, University of Dundee. Scotland. I felt right at home working in 3D and so gave up painting and spent my time exploring different methods of sculpture. I graduated with a BA Hons Fine Art degree in 2010.
On returning to Ireland I knew I wanted to work in stone and set up my Sculpture Practice in Drogheda. In those early years I spent my time learning and developing the craft of stone carving, by attending stone carving courses with Richie Healy and Stephen Burke, and Leitrim Sculpture Centre. For a period of time I was an assistant to Martha Quinn, Stone Sculptor, Sligo, Ireland. I also participated in Stone Symposiums in Clones, Co Monaghan, Ireland and Kirkcudbright, Scotland. .
I am a member of the 8 Fold Artist Studios, Drogheda. and I also work in the D15 Stone Sculpture Studios, Dublin.
I am a member of VAI (Visual Artists Ireland)
ARTIST STATEMENT
Much of my work is personal- there is the need in me to give expression to what I’m feeling inwards and bring it outwards. Whether it is about my own personal experience or what I am witnessing in the world that has an emotional impact on me, thus through my sculptures I want to make physical the ‘inner experience’ of being Human.
I see forms in nature that speak to me of the human form and the human condition, I see something and have an immediate emotional response, and I’ve got to express this through my sculptures.
I occasionally work in bronze but I feel most at home when my hands are on stone. Carving a sculpture in stone is a slow process which I enjoy tremendously, it also allows me to feel my way around the stone creating the lines, flow and textures that communicate the energy and feeling I want to express.
Exhibitions
Over the years I have exhibited in many group shows around Ireland to name some prominent shows, such as ‘ Sculpture in Context’, Botanic Gardens Dublin, Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast, Richard Scott Sculpture @ Ballymaloe, Co Cork, ‘Cairde’, Hamilton Gallery Sligo, Ardgillan Castle Summer show and Surveyor 2025 in the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan. In 2018 I had my first Solo show in the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda.
Awards
I was awarded a Residency in Cill Rialaig Ballinskellig Co Kerry, the Tyrone Guthrie Bursary from Louth County Council. I also received awards from the Arts Council, Louth County Council and thanks to the Droichead Arts Centre I received the ‘Droichead Artist Bursary 2023’, which I used to travel to Italy to take part in a marble carving workshop.