Oriel Gallery, Clotworthy Art Centre, Antrim Gardens, Antrim 10th August - 30th September 2020.
Shirley's Poodle (a corner of Shirley's antique shop in Greyabbey) - oil on canvas, 76cm x 40cm
Earlier this year, in April, an exhibition of my work had been due to be held in the Oriel Gallery, Clotworthy Art Centre, Antrim. Of course, with coronavirus, mine and a lot of other artists' exhibitions were cancelled and lock-down began. We now have a new situation where the council wished to partially open the gallery again, with covid protocols in place, and kindly invited me to hang my work.
I was there myself throughout much of the exhibition and I chatted to visitors whilst painting in either oils or pastels. It was wonderful to enable people to connect the art to the artist.
On show was a selection of oil paintings and pastels - see slideshow here - which reflected my love of sunshine and the places we experience at our leisure, whether out walking near home, visiting favourite haunts like antique shops or further afield during my latest travels. (any subject which has inspired a serene or happy emotion for me - I love happy art!)
I have held solo exhibitions at three locations in Antrim and two in Belfast: at the Oriel Gallery, the Conservatory Gallery, Clotworthy Art Centre and Antrim Library as well as the Linen Hall Library, the Higgin Gallery, Malone House and the John Luke Gallery, all in Belfast. I have also participated in several group exhibitions with the Ulster Society of Women Artists, Where I won the Lily Davis Award in 2017 and the Past President's Award in 2019. I was honoured to receive an award for the best artwork for a non member from the Pastel Society of Ireland 2019 at their annual exhibition.