A few words about my work.

The ancient temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece was once famed for a brief quotation displayed above it's entrance. It contained two words which verbalise one of the most important phrases in the human language – “Know thyself”. These simple words illustrate the fact that all knowledge comes from within. Although it perhaps may be said that my paintings are inherently representational in context, what one initially percieves is but a mere shadow of their totality. The sum of my vision is as much a result of my inner vision as of my outer one. You really have to intimately know what you are painting in order to be at one with it and hence transfer your feelings to canvas.

My paintings are superficially concerned with the everyday. It goes without saying that I love the sea and water in all its forms. I suppose I have lived by the ocean for the greater part of my life and feel almost depressed if I am absent from it's tranquillizing salve for too long. It contains an invisible, invigorating life-force which is essential for my wellbeing. I am especially interested in the interplay of light and water, particularly the blues and greens which are created via the pristine skies of sunnier climes. Our own darker skies create their own individual beauty as they interact with the waters of the Irish coastline. To me, water is a reflection of our psyche and our soul. Below the swirling currents we sense half glimpsed undiscovered truths. We are integrally contained within it as a living, breathing element. In today’s post Celtic Tiger world there is less mystery and mysticality, rather a feeling of loss or absence, a feeling that there should be something else there beyond our physical selves, beyond scientific and rational explanation. We stand cosily oblivious in our little three dimensional reality. Concealed beneath the seemingly mundane outer layer of our everyday world lies a hidden universe of wonders and nameless fears that are waiting to be explored at our peril. I am totally fascinated with these hidden depths. They encompass the unchartered physical, mental and spiritual dimensions with which I find myself endlessly enthralled and magnified by.

My early childhood memories are of being surrounded by the numerous megalithic monmuments of the Sligo landscape. The view from my bedroom window was of the legendary ancient warrior Queen Medhbh's grave (see below photo) which was a huge burial mound atop knocknarea mountain. As it was visible for miles around it couldn't but fail to leave its impression during my formative years! The sligo landscape not only offers it's dramatic storm beaten coasts to enthrall us - it also harbours ancient pre-celtic ritual within it's very veins. No wonder it leaves it's mark on so many!
Just as human sight is limited in its vision, so are we mentally and perceptively limited by our three-dimensional thought processes. In short - what we see is not always what we get. and who else would be more appropriate to offer a quote on the human condition but WB himself:

Many times man lives and dies
Between his two eternities
That of race and that of soul,
And ancient Ireland knew it all.

From "Under Ben Bulben" by William Butler Yeats

And a little quote from American artist Robert Henri:

All manifestations of art are but landmarks in the progress of the human spirit toward a thing but as yet sensed and far from being possessed.

Know Thyself!