Deirdre of the Sorrows

This is my painting of Deirdre of the Sorrows from "The Names Upon The Harp" written by Marie Heaney.
I've enjoyed revisiting this book recently, primarily for "Ireland of the Welcomes" magazine who used my paintings to illustrate a series of Irish myths retold by a young writer named Shauna O'Halloran.

Two Nude Studies

Here are a couple of female life studies from the last weeks of the life sessions at the RHA before the summer recess.
Stephanie is above and Hannah is below.

Enchanting Cologne

I've just returned from a wonderful trip to Cologne in Germany.
The indefatigable Uschi Schröter and her team at SK Stiftung Kultur organised for a group of Irish writers and illustrators to come over for their annual Children's Literature Festival.
This year it was entitled "Enchanted Ireland".





The Cathedral is breathtaking.


A visit to the Käthe Kollwitz Museum was a highlight for me.
I was dissappointed to find the museum closed when I got there, but a sweet lady, who was setting up the next exhibition, very kindly brought me in so that I got the gallery all to myself.
For those of us who admire great draughtsmanship, Käthe Kollwitz is at the top of the list.


Uschi, Ulricka and Oisín with me at the "Enchanted Ireland" Exhibition in the Altes Pfandhaus.


We were spread out over a couple of weeks so that I missed my old pals and Laureates Na nOg Siobhan Parkinson and Niamh Sharkey, but I was delighted to be able to spend some time with Marie-Louise FitzPatrick and her husband, Micheal Emberley, as well as Oisín McGann and Judi Curtin.


The best part though, was meeting and drawing with so many lovely German children, and getting to work and hang out with my wonderfully talented interpreter Caroline.

The Book Show

Speaking of Paris...here is an image from Alice in Wonderland that I painted for a very charming Parisien gentleman.
The picture will be part of an exhibition called The Book Show which opens in July at the Galerie Daniel Maghen, 47 Quai des Grands Augustins, 75006 Paris, France.
I will be going over for the opening and I am very excited to meet the curators and some of the wonderful artists whose work will be in the exhibition.

Visiting Marymount International School in Paris

I had a great time in Paris visiting the Marymount International School (above).
Apparently the school was the inspiration for Madeleine's school in the famous books by Ludwig Bemelmans.
The staff and children there were extraordinarily kind and welcoming.
They made my school visit a very great pleasure!
Hopefully I will soon be able to post some photos from my day at the school.

Meanwhile here is a shot I took in beautiful Notre Dame de Paris.