I am a Fine Art painter and printmaker living and working in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
I have always had a strong affinity with nature and our landscape, from my early childhood adventures with my father, hiking up mountains, feeling so very small walking through the wet ferns that towered over me like the canopy of a forest. Smelling the wet earth and feeling the droplets landing upon my face. Such wonderment and adventure and a total sense of freedom, freedom from everyday anxieties and pressures, with nothing more to think about than the simple pleasure of putting one foot in front of the other, looking forward to the next discovery that the Earth would share with me.
My work is inspired by this abiding memory and the strong belief that our very beings are intrinsically connected with the Earth and that the Earth has the power to nurture and sustain us.
Through my work, I want the viewer to feel some of the essence of the experience of being in the natural world. I want to share that sense of ‘grounding’, of being still and present, and to guide them into experiencing or looking closer at nature and regaining their sense of wonderment and connection with our natural world.
I approach my work by laying down layers to build up the surface so to invite the viewer to touch the work, to have a tactile experience.
Education
1985 Graduated from N.C.A.D. with Honours Degree in Fine Art Painting.
Selected Exhibitions
2021
Signal Art Society Annual Members Exhibition, Online
Dublin Painting and Sketching Club Annual Members Exhibition, Online
2010
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2009
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2007
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2006
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2005
Mermaid Open Submission Exhibition , Mermaid Art Centre, Bray, Co.Wicklow
Greystones Arts Festival , Greystones, Co Wicklow.
Wicklow Open Submission Exhibition , County Buildings, Wicklow, Co Wicklow
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2004
‘Continuity’, Open Submission Exhibition, Wexford, Co Wexford.
Mermaid Open Submission Exhibition , Mermaid Art Centre, Bray, Co.Wicklow
Greystones Arts Festival , Greystones, Co Wicklow.
Wicklow Open Submission Exhibition , County Buildings, Wicklow, Co Wicklow
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
2003
‘Green’, Solo Exhibition, Draiocht Art Centre, Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin
‘Green’, Solo Exhibition, South Dublin County Council, Tallaght, Co Dublin ‘Leaves’, Solo Exhibition, Airfield House, Upper Kilmacud Rd , Dundrum, Dublin 6. ‘Mermaid Open Submission Exhibition, Mermaid Art Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow.
‘Up Close’, Solo Exhibition, Metatron Gallery, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
‘Leaves’, Solo Exhibition, Airfield House, Upper Kilmacud Rd , Dundrum, Dublin 6.
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Wicklow Open Submission Exhibition , County Buildings, Wicklow, Co Wicklow
2002
Watercolour Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition, Town Buildings, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Wicklow Open Submission Exhibition, County Buildings, Wicklow, Co. Wicklow
1998
Dun Laoghaire 1500, Town Hall Building, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
1997
Gallery Artists Exhibition , Lambay House Gallery, Abbey Street, Howth, Co Dublin
1996
RHA Annual Exhibition, Gallagher Gallery, Ely Place , Dublin
Group Exhibition, Waldock Gallery, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Group Exhibition, The Courtyard Gallery, Monkstown, Co Dublin
Group Exhibition, Kenny Gallery, Galway, Co Galway
1995
‘Oireachtas’, Guinness Hop Store, Thomas Street, Dublin
Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Co Roscommon
Dundrum Open Submission Exhibition, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Buildings, Dundrum, Co Dublin
Solo Exhibition, Bray Heritage Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow
Gallery Artists Exhibition, Kenny Gallery, Galway, Co Galway
‘Conamara’, Group Exhibition, An Damhlann Gallery, Spiddal, Co Galway
Gallery Exhibition, The Courtyard Gallery, Monkstown, Co Dublin
1994
RHA Annual Exhibition , Ely Place , Dublin
‘Gallery Artistskokmnmbcvxdsfgj;m.k’ Exhibition , The Courtyard Gallery, Monkstown, Co Dublin
Gallery Artists Exhibition , Lambay House Gallery, Abbey Street, Howth, Co Dublin
‘Stillness’ , Solo Exhibition, Coopers Restaurant, Greystones, Co Wicklow
1993
RHA Annual Exhibition , Ely Place , Dublin
‘Iontas’ , Sligo Art Gallery , Sligo
‘Iontas’ , Ely Place , Dublin
‘Movement’ , Powerhouse Art, Pigeon House, Co Dublin
Group Exhibition , Guinness Gallery, Foxrock, Co Dublin
1992
Group Exhibition , Ardmore Studios, Bray, Co Wicklow
1991
RHA Annual Exhibition , Ely Place , Dublin
Gallery Artists , The Square, Tallaght
1990
RHA Annual Exhibition , Ely Place , Dublin
‘A New View’ , Ennis 750, Ennis, Co Clare
‘Gallery Artists’ Exhibition , Hangman Gallery, Bray, Co Wicklow
‘The Works II’ , 5A Studios, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
1988
‘Wicklow Women Artists’ , Quinsboro Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow
1987
Solo Exhibition , Bank of Ireland, Bray, Co Wicklow
1986
The Decade Show’ , Guinness Hop Store, Dublin
1985
Graduate Show, NCAD, Dublin
‘Art by Degrees’ , Arnotts Ltd, Dublin
Collections
My work is represented in numerous private, corporate and public collections including the following:
Irish Life
G.P.A.
Department of Foreign Affairs
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Enterprise Ireland
Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny
Grants and Awards
2005 Tyrone Guthrie Bursary Award for Work of Distinction
2005 James Adams Award for Work of Distinction (Annual Watercolour Society Exhibition)
2008 Dart Award for Work of Distinction (Annual Watercolour Society Exhibition)
2009 K & M Evans Trading Ltd Award for Work of Distinction (Annual Watercolour Society Exhibition)
2010 Whyte’s Auctioneers Award for a Work of Distinction (Annual Watercolour Society Exhibition)
Residencies
Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Artists Residency, Annamakerrig, Co Tyrone.
Memberships
Visual Artist of Ireland, Dublin Painting and Sketching Club, Signal Art Society and Wicklow Artists Network.
Selected Publications
23 Jan 2003, Aoife O’Reilly, ‘Rachel’s art exudes light and hope’, The Echo
29 April 1990, Aidan Dunne, ‘Reform Stirring as RHA goes Modern’, Sunday Tribune
1987, Aidan Dunne, ‘Contemporary Women Artists’, Irish Women Artists, National Gallery and Douglas Hyde Gallery.