Biography:
Contemporary photographs used in newspapers at a time when the violence was at its worst inspire my paintings of the ‘Troubles’. They were a familiar feature of newspapers throughout ‘the Troubles’ and to me throughout my childhood and adolescence.
The photographs are from a number of printed newspaper sources including army and police operations or the aftermath of paramilitary action from both sides of the community.
Photographs sometimes fondly provided from a family photograph album, or found as dog-eared memento, or as earlier news photographs showed victims in a variety of moods and situations and often in happier times. Sometimes used singly after an individual death, they also appeared in mini portrait galleries after larger massacres.
My work to record them is a work in progress, but already the massing of my images is a bleak reminder of collective loss. My paintings also powerfully reflect the blurring process by which we reduce individual tragedy and loss to a more convenient anonymity.
The use of the photographic image in my work has been steadfast throughout my education as a visual artist. Whether as a standard photographic print, a painterly reproduction or a combination of both the function of research and selection is a continuous one. I use my own photography along side archive material in an always changing and challenging process of remembering, filling in the gaps of my own and increasingly expanded autobiography
Résumé:
D.O.B 11.11.1968
EDUCATION
3rd Level
2004 - 2006 Master of Fine Art, Post Graduate Degree, (Fine Art)
The University of Ulster, Belfast.
Introduction to Teaching and Learning for Postgraduate Assistants.
2001 - 2004 BA Honours Degree in Fine and Applied Art, (Fine Art)
The University of Ulster, Belfast.
AWARDS
The Carson McDowell Award for Painting 2006. The University of Ulster.
WORK IN COLLECTIONS
Alan Jones Architects, Belfast, Carson McDowell Solicitors, Belfast, Lisney Property, Belfast, O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors, Belfast, The Linen Hall Library, Belfast, The Kelly Group, Northern Ireland, The Hastings Group, Northern Ireland.
TV, NEWSPAPER & RADIO.
Northern Visions TV, The Artery, 17th February 2006 and 26th June 2006
BBC1 Northern Ireland. Morning News, Tuesday 8th June 2006.
BBC Radio Ulster, Arts Extra, 2nd February 2006.
The Belfast Telegraph ‘A poignant reminder of a troubled past’ Article by Liz Baird. 24th February 2006.
The Irish News, ‘In Safe Hands’, 2nd 2005.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
07/02/06 Solo Exhibition of Work ‘The Frailty of Memory’
The Northern Room, Linen Hall Library Belfast.
An exhibition of paintings centred on a theme of collective loss – The paintings are of blurred photographs that appeared in newspapers of people who died in the troubles.
03/03/05 Solo Exhibition of Work ‘Still Life’
Island Arts Centre, Lagan Valley Island Lisburn.
An exhibition of photography centred on the month of July in Belfast – Specifically the environment of the Artist’s home during the July celebrations. The collection featured, portraits, bonfires and cityscapes of Belfast.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
07/10/06 Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 125th Annual Exhibition 2006
The Ormeau Baths Gallery Belfast
05/06/06 M.F.A Graduation Show. University of Ulster Belfast.
York Street Belfast.
17/01/06 M.F.A Mid Term Show, The Golden Thread Gallery,
Crumlin Road Belfast
02/06/05 M.F.A First Year Show. University of Ulster Belfast.
York Street Belfast.
03/02/05 Group Show Catalyst Arts Annual Student Show 2005
Exchange Place Belfast.
04/06/04 Annual Graduation Show. University of Ulster Belfast.
York Street Belfast.
05/02/03 Group Show Catalyst Arts Annual Student Show 2003
North Street Arcade Belfast.
10/01/03 Group Show ‘From Ritual To Romance’ Catalyst Arts
Donegall Street Belfast.
06/02/02 Group Show Catalyst Arts Annual Student Show 2002
Donegall Street Belfast.
02/10/98 Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 117th Annual Exhibition 1998
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast.
02/10/97 Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 116th Annual Exhibition 1997
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast.
06/09/96 Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 115th Annual Exhibition 1996
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast.
13/08/94 Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 113th Annual Exhibition 1994
Queen’s University, Dept. of Architecture & Planning.