Title: Indigo stream

Medium: Pencil on watercolour paper

Size: 28x24cm

Description: Admiring the colour blue I was struck by this mussel shell on Ballybunion Beach in Co.Kerry in winter. On bringing
it home, I prepared seven miniature canvases for painting by repeatedly priming and sanding the surface
until smooth to touch. With this treatment the inexpensive miniature canvas solidifies into a ‘block’
form that provides a sensitive surface for painting.

Using an indigo tonal scale as background, I created seven individual paintings of the blue shell, working
directly from life in my studio during daylight. In the final painting I turn the shell, revealing another
viewpoint. I was interested in the contrast between shell blue, background blue and the harmony of tone
reflected here in a sequence of eight works, reminiscent of piano scales I learned as a child.

Many thanks for Fine Framers in Carlow for the exceptional framing of my shell paintings as a sequence.

This work was exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy Exhibition in 2012.

Title: Once upon a time…on-going project

Medium: Oil on canvas block

Size: 6cmx3.75cm x 18

Description: 'Once upon a time...' is an on-going project that broadly deals with a theme of love and wonder. I aim to paint
366 seahorse shells with contrasting backgrounds over time, one for each day of a single leap year. This
project is a tribute to my love of painting. It is also a tribute to a majestic and endangered creature
from the sea.

Title: Auricle

Medium: Oil on wooden panel & canvas block

Size: 7cmx5cm x 3

Description: The value of listening was the theme of 'Auricle', my third solo exhibition. Auricle was accompanied with a
specially created sound piece by the artist Jack L and the Auricle brochure was designed by Brendan McCarthy.

This series of miniature paintings were inspired by Vermeer’s painting of a “Girl with a peal earring” and by my
reading Tracy Chevalier’s book of the same name. Four ear paintings were presented encased high up on
a solid wooden ash beam reminiscent of a tabernacle or shrine at my exhibition in the Ashford Gallery of
the Royal Hibernian Academy. In the first painting the little gold & sapphire earring intensifies the
red painted ground, there are warm and cool tones in the middle ear painting and in the third painting
the ear is vaguely visible behind a deep blue glaze. In these works I give attention to idea, form, detail
and technique.

Title: Election Edition

Medium: Oil on wooden panel & canvas block

Size: 7cmx5cm x 3

Description: I returned to live and work in the countryside, near the waterways and close to the town of Athy in South
Co.Kildare, from the city of Dublin, in late 2007. Change can be difficult at times and I began to realise
the value of the Newspaper for both its familiarity and content. Listening to Barack Obama's "Dreams
of my father" and "the Audacity of hope" on audio CD in my studio, the American Elections also caught
my attention. This is the First Family having won the Election Race in 2008. My work is hand-painted
on primed linen. It is inspired by people and events, a positive attitude and the front page of the
Irish Independent Newspaper. I continue to work on a series of newspaper paintings in my studio today.

This work was exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy 180th Annual Exhibition. This same painting was
also mentioned in an article by Brian McEvera in the 2010 Summer edition of the Irish Art's Review.

Title: Chrysalis (after Leonardo)

Medium: Oil on wood with 23.5ct gold leaf

Size: 7cmx220cmx7cm

Year: 2005-2007

Description: My model for Chrysalis is Michelle O' Brien. Michelle is a native of Co. Clare and a traditional Irish
musician. In Auricle, my solo exhibition, this series of paintings were presented on a waxed and limed ash shelf.