The Inis Oirr Studies.

Recently I was delighted to be a guest of Aras Eanna Arts Centre and Residency on Inis Oirr, one of the Aran Islands and one of the most westerly points of Europe.

I adore that part of the world and make a beeline for the West at every opportunity. This trip had the added frisson of racing for the last ferry of the day.

I also had to travel light as I had to carry everything myself so I had to select in advance what media to bring with me instead my usual approach to a residency of being everything and the kitchen sink - just in case. I brought prepared paper, a few tubes of paint and soluble oil pastels. And of course some compressed charcoal and some 'wild' charcoal lumps acquired from an abandoned bonfire.

One of my favourite places, there was lots of weather but I still managed to get out. Mostly I sketched and walked; went mad and had a dip in the Atlantic too. This is a series of small acrylic and mixed media paintings on prepared paper developed from those sketches. ‘Inis Oirr Study II’ features the wreck of the ship ‘The Plassey’ on the horizon. Every artist in Ireland eventually makes it to this spot, I couldn't resist joining in.

My work returns over and over to themes of wilderness and landscape. There is so much embedded in the lands around us, memories and associations, stories and histories. When I look at these views I find myself wondering who else stood at this spot before me looking at the same field or seascape. Did they see it in the same way or were their connections different?

The land is part of us and this is never more obvious than out in the wilds.

These small studies were made based on graphite and mixed media drawings done in situ buffeted by a mild gale. Acrylic and mixed media on prepared paper. (Approximately 20cm x 30cm).

DM to inquire about purchase €150 each P&P incl