My New Studio

I'm very excited to have moved to a new space in an artists' collective studio building in the heart of old Dublin.
Inside it is still a mess of boxes, but hopefully it will be a hive of creative activity after the break.
Happy Holidays everyone!

Two Hour Portrait Study

It was nice to be back painting at the RHA last week.
This is the portrait study I did of Aine.

The NLI Christmas Selection Box

My thanks to Carol at the National Library of Ireland for sharing my original painting of the Lassie and the Bear from "East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon" in their Christmas Selection Box.
The image in the printed book was cropped to hide all those lovely rough edges  and I overlaid a layer of snow falling too.

"Oscar Wilde; Stories for Children" at No 5

Many thanks to my friend Flora who sent me this photo from Hodges Figgis showing that Oscar is climbing even higher in the bestsellers this Christmas.

"Oscar Wilde: Stories for Children" still a bestseller

When I was up visiting Niamh at Hodges Figgis it was nice to see my "Oscar Wilde; Stories for Children" book is still in the bestsellers charts twenty two years after publication.

Below are some paintings from the book.

The Story of Britain is shortlisted for the ALCS award

I was delighted to hear that The Story of Britain, by Patrick Dillon with illustrations by me has been shortlisted for the The Society of Authors ALCS award.

Obviously the shortlisting is primarily due to Patrick's wonderful prose, but I am hoping I might tag along next month to the prize giving event which is at the Houses of Parliament in London.
Our publisher, Walker Books, has another title among the four short-listed, so the chances of a celebration are good.
Above is the cover of the paperback version of The Story of Britain which is due out next year.

Niamh Sharkey at Hodges Figgis

This time last year I was camped in the window of Hodges Figgis bookstore painting a seven foot canvas of the Ghost of Christmas Present. 
This year it is Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey's turn.
I popped round to lend her a hand, but I think Niamh's lovely painting is nearly finished already.
It is derived from her most seasonal book, Santasaurous

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