Looking back…

What a rollercoaster of a year! I often wonder what it would look like on a graph, something like an earthquake, I’d imagine.

January was, as usual, a bit of nightmare – as it’s the time when most of the Open Submission entries have to be sent in online; it can be tricky keeping an eye on what is sent to the various shows.

And then there’s the interminable wait…

February we spent almost three weeks in Cape Town, it was a magical experience.

Soon the results of the first rounds of the big three submissions started to filter through, and the sorting of work for framing, as well as for a solo show in Radicondoli in April/May began.

In April we drove through Spain with the car packed to explosion point with work for my show “Nascosto in piena vista” / “Hidden in plain sight”.
I had no idea what it would look like as the previous venue was the Esker Arts Centre which was a brand new space; enormous with perfect white walls and lighting. Palazzo Bizzarrini couldn’t be more different. A very old building with uneven walls and low ceilings. We hung it in two days and thankfully I hadn’t time to think what the reaction of the townspeople would be.

And what a reaction! I can honestly say that I never experienced anything like it before. It seemed the whole town plus some more turned out. The deserted places and abandoned objects seemed to hit a chord with a lot of people.
As I walked through the town lots of people came up to me to talk about the show and how much it meant to them. I have to admit I didn’t understand some of their comments but their faces spoke enough, as well as all the kissing! I also held a very enjoyable printmaking workshop with one of my students declaring he was “the happiest man in Radicondoli” after it! Could it get any better?

By the time we were headed back to Dublin I had achieved what I didn’t dare hope for, the Academy hat trick. My work was selected for the Academies in Dublin, London and Belfast. It was the second time I was this lucky.

In August I spent two weeks at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and it was the most productive time I ever spent there. I made five new large drypoint prints. These usually take about three weeks each to complete. But it wasn’t all work and no play, I met some amazing people and we had great fun.

September brought another burst of activity, this time in the shape of the Art Car Boot Fair at Russborough House and Culture Night. Both were great opportunities to meet people.

After this it was time to return to Radicondoli, pack up the exhibition work to return to Dublin. But not before making a few more large drawings for new drypoints.
In mid November I made a flying visit to the Woolwich Print Fair in London where I had a piece in their Open Submission section. It is a wonderful showcase for printmaking. There are lots of galleries represented and all the big names from the world of print there too. It’s such a shot in the arm for real printmaking – in the face of so many new threats to its true meaning.

Early December brought the Hunt Museum’s Open Submission. It’s a new and very welcome opportunity and the opening night was like a big party. Read all about that HERE.

Also in December I had my annual studio open day, a great day for meeting friends old and new as well as letting them see latest work.

At this time of year I find myself taking stock and seeing where I’ll go with my work. I already have a solo show lined up in March – in the Court House in Tinahely; and exciting news regarding being a selector and judge for a large open submission competition. So watch this space, and I wish you everything you dream of (and more) in 2026.