Wild Flowers from Nature

Following a three week residency in Belfast Print Workshop, I have an exhibition in their gallery from 6th March to 30th March, 2014. ‘Wild Flowers from Nature’ includes linocutting, letterpress, etching and screenprints.

‘Wild Flowers from Nature’ is a book of flower paintings by Katharine and Frederica Plunket (different spelling!) which they painted on their many travels throughout Europe as well as at home in County Louth. They lived in Ballymascanlon and a number of the drawings relate to flowers growing in the grounds of the house. Frederica died in 1886 and in 1903 Katharine collected the drawings into a leather bound book and donated it to the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin; it was later transferred to the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland and is now held in their library. Katherine died in 1932 at the age of 112 and a little over ten years later another Plunkett family moved into the house. My father recalls his mother pointing out the flowers that would have remained from Katharine Plunket’s time. Based on the flowers of the book and my own photos from the Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin, Kilmacurragh and Belfast, I have produced a small collection of etchings and screenprints which are now on exhibition in Belfast Print Workshop Gallery. You can read more about the work in progress here.

In addition, my recent book ‘Eveline‘, James Joyce’s short story from Dubliners with six linocuts will also be on show, as well as my book ‘Night Prayer’ and its accompanying seven linocuts and fourteen etchings.

This is my first solo show and I’m delighted to be exhibiting in Belfast Print Workshop. The show was opened by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who also took time to visit the workshop and make his own screenprint! Thanks to all who braved the bad weather to see the show and to those who travelled to see it, it is much appreciated! The exhibition continues until 30th March.