"Softly lit, careful compositions. Young foliage in time worn, familiar vessels from my family home. Reflective and peaceful. I want to render the painting just real enough for the viewer to know the feel of the texture; soft linen, cool ceramic, velvet leaves. These are still and contemplative moments in darkened rooms, gently lit by the window.

I've collected cuttings from my garden and arranged in borrowed vessels, as well as fresh produce on folded fabric. The most familiar things can become beautiful subjects with a just little bit of care. It's hard not to be inspired by the changing of seasons in Ireland, and having been present here for the first time in years to witness Winter turn to Spring and then Summer, I wanted to capture the reverence of new growth with this collection of paintings. The colour green is ever present.

I attended the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, and upon graduating in 2009, I moved to Melbourne with the intention of travelling for a year. One year turned to twelve, and just recently my family and I (including our dog) made the big move back to Ireland and now reside in Co. Monaghan.

I've been fortunate to move my practice into a beautiful renovated studio (in a listed building to boot) in my new home town of Carrickmacross. Having this space has really invigorated my work and given me a fresh perspective after the drudgery of the pandemic. I look forward to continuing my career as an oil painter that I had the opportunity to begin in Australia, with a particular focus on architecture and still life. Although I miss Melbourne dearly, I was delighted to see it didn't rain nearly as much as I remembered here and more importantly, the coffee scene has drastically improved!"