A FORMER RAF officer and peace negotiator who returned to painting after a career in corporate restructuring will showcase his work at Art Source 2019 at the RDS Dublin, from November 15-17.
Dun Laoghaire-based contemporary fine artist Steve Bradbury served in Central America, the US, Canada, Cyprus and Sierra Leone with the UN as an observer and peace negotiator.
“I had an exciting 16 years in the RAF, but when I was only 36 I realised the rest of my career would be spent behind a desk,” he said.
“I had travelled the world as a UN observer and peace negotiator but knew the rest of my working life would involve fighting my colleagues to move up the political ladder. That isn’t my thing.”
Steve worked his way up to become a senior RAF engineering officer, managing 160 technicians and mechanics and running a fleet of over 270 jet aircraft.
After leaving the RAF, he worked in corporate restructuring for 10 years on projects as diverse as the NHS, the UK Ministry of Defence, Twycross Zoo and the aviation industry.
When the family moved to Dun Laoghaire to allow his wife to take up a position as a consultant paediatrician at a Dublin Hospital, Steve decided to revisit his first love of art and gave up his corporate career.
Steve’s paintings develop a sense of emotion, through the use of contrasts in colour and light, combined with elements of motion and fluidity.
He is exhibiting at Art Source for the first time. His primary medium is oil, but he also works in watercolour, gouache and pastel.
Steve is constantly honing his work, working with various mediums including oils, watercolours, gouache and pastels.
"My technique and style develop all the time. Being able to paint every day allows me continually adapt,” he said.
“My work has become less traditional, with more focus on colour, movement and energy, which I hope invokes emotion.
"I am happy painting all types of genres, but within my contemporary style, so that people can recognise my work."
The largest collection of Banksy’s work exhibited on public show in Ireland is also set to feature at Art Source.
Gormleys Fine Art will be showing 12 screen prints by the anonymous UK-based artist and political activist whose original piece Devolved Parliament recently sold for €10.9m.
Over 15,000 people are expected to attend the year’s biggest and most exciting art show which will feature 200 of the best contemporary Irish and international artists and galleries.
Irish art lovers also have the unique chance to get their hands on 100 pieces of original artwork for €100 each on a first-come, first-served basis on the opening morning of the show on Friday, November 15.
The show also features Our Beautiful Earth, a free children’s workshop on the planet.
