Samson and Goliath Print

In my paintings, I want to capture what I feel as much as what I see. The brightness of the sunlight, the lush greens, the mist and the rain, country roads snuggled by hedges disappearing into the hills. It’s my landscape. I grew up in a small village in County Armagh with family on both sides of the Armagh Monaghan border and that landscape of drumlins, winding roads, round hills, and hedges influences what feels like home to me. From a young age my world was a dangerous place, growing up during the height of the Troubles and this continues to impact what I like to paint. I look for the peace that can be found in the simplicity of the everyday, evoking memories of place and time, of safety and familiarity. Muddy roads, farm byres, grassy lanes, derelict houses, and the simple process of observing - can be very grounding. I mainly work oils, using a mix of traditional subject matter with abstract mark making. I like to scratch-through the layers, utilise line, create drama by contrasting light and dark, all with careful consideration of tone. And at times over-emphasising colour to achieve that emotional statement.