Art to raise funds for RNLI

FUNDS from the sale of an astonishing portrait of Irish musician Matt Molloy, being shown as part an upcoming exhibition of water colours in Dun Laoghaire, will go to the RNLI as the artist has a connection with the Irish Coast Guard helicopter pilot who died earlier his year.

The work, by artist John Blakey, will go on display at the Irish Water Colour Society of Ireland’s 163rd exhibition at the Concourse Gallery, in Dun Laoghaire’s County Hall from Monday, September 25.

If it sells, the artist is donating the proceeds to the RNLI as his wife’s niece, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, was the pilot of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter that came down in March 2017 on the west coast during a rescue mission off Co Mayo.

It crashed into Black Rock Island off Achill Island and all four crew members’ lives were lost.

Artist Blakey has been on an active fundraising drive since, which included a Memorial Concert with The Chieftains and other musicians last month in aid of the RNLI.

The largest exhibition of watercolours and one of the biggest national group art shows in Ireland, the exhibition is on at the Concourse Gallery at the Dun Laoghaire County Hall, for one week, until Sunday, October 1.

This year’s event features some very fine watercolours by more than 120 leading contemporary Irish artists.

Celebrated portrait artist Gareth Reid from Northern Ireland, winner of the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2017, will also be exhibiting as the society’s invited guest artist. 

Over 290 paintings in watercolour, gouache and pastels, plus drawings and limited edition signed prints, will be on sale to the public at affordable prices at this year’s exhibition.

With the many top watercolour artists from throughout Ireland and overseas showing, including Royal Hibernian Academy and Royal Ulster Academy artists who are also members of the Society, the exhibition offers a broad choice of traditional and contemporary watercolour art. Strong diversity is created by each artist showing one or more works from selected submissions with an immense variety of subjects and styles on offer.

Landscapes, seascapes, still life, animal and life studies, as well as botanical, floral, architectural and figure work, all abound from representational through to even abstract treatments.

Prices are largely around €350 – €850, with some less and others more.

Michel Bernard’s watercolour, a streetscape in soft tones ‘Rue de Jerzual, Dinan, France’, illustrates this year’s exhibition catalogue front cover.

A contemporary style painting, ‘Winter Bathers’ by John Short is being offered as the raffle prize.

Some selected paintings are being produced as postcards and will be on sale to the public during the exhibition. 

The Water Colour Society of Ireland, an illustrious body founded as far back as 1870 has included some of the finest Irish watercolourists.

It was accepted into the European Confederation of Watercolour Societies this year.

Its new president, Liam O’Herlihy, elected earlier in the year, says that “this is a splendid tribute to the continuing high standard of watercolour art in this country”.

And it is hoped that Ireland will be chosen to host an international exhibition of watercolours in the near future. 

An artistic event that is open to the public free-of-charge is being held on every morning of the exhibition at 11am. This will include watercolour demonstrations by exhibiting artists, talks, guided tours and interactive workshops.

Details of all events can be found at www.watercoloursocietyofireland.ie.