In celebration of our first Art Workshop on a Frances Browne Literary Festival programme, we're sharing the work of some very talented Ballybofey-Stranorlar artists for you to enjoy.
Ann Quinn, ARHA is a Donegal artist whose work is influenced by the large dramtic skies and open landscapes of East Donegal. For our festival, she will lead a five-hour masterclass is Oil Painting on Friday 13 October. Spaces are nearly all booked up so be quick if you want to grab one.
Ann isn't the only artist to be inspired by the landscapes and people of Donegal. Renowned Irish Artist, Carey Clarke, whose work is receiving it's first solo exhibiton at the Glebe House and Gallery, Churchill, Co Donegal up to 31 October, also has a Stranorlar connection, having grown up here before going to school in Dublin. It is well worth a special trip.
These local artists who follow are all from Ballybofey-Stranorlar. Their work reflects a wide range of disciplines and styles, influences and approaches. We encourage you to visit their websites and view their full art collections. Or arrange a friendly, private viewing when you come along to our festival happening from 12 to 15 October 2023.
View our full festival programme at www.francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com/literary-festival
Born in Ballybofey, Maria Noonan-McDermott now lives and works from her studio in Kinlough, Co. Leitrim. She is ideally nestled between the Sligo, Donegal and Fermanagh borders. a constant inspiration for her work. Maria exhibits throughout her native Ireland and has been represented by galleries in Dublin,Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Fermanagh and Antrim. Her work is held in private and corporate collections throughout Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and America.
With a love of folklore and story-telling, her inspirations lie in rural Ireland, it is in these magical places that share a colloquial history where stories and the people are often intermingled with the landscape. View Maria's art and contact her via: www.marianoonan-mcdermott.com
Morgan Ferriter grew up in Donegal in the Northwest of Ireland. He studied art at NWIFHE, Derry and transferred to Crawford College of Art, Cork, where he graduated in 1995. The subjects of his paintings are the Irish landscape, particularly Donegal and surrounding counties. He favours working 'plein air' or on location, his preferred medium being oil. More recently he has been creating mixed media paintings done on sand from the Donegal coast. He has exhibited in Ireland and Canada since 2002.
View Morgan's art and get in touch with him via www.morganferriter.com
Veronica Maguire's work is diverse. She is always inspired by nature and the incredible scenery of Donegal. Mostly self taught, her art journey started in 2000. As a New Year resolution she decided to take classes and she joined the local art group. She has painted in several art programs in lreland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Turkey, France, and Austria, experimenting with different mediums and using her intuition and her imagination. Veronica works mainly with oils, alcohol inks, and watercolours.
View Veronica's art and get in touch with her via www.veronicamaguireartist.com
Bernie Anderson expresses herself through the use of intuitive colour and form. She is influenced by the ebb and flow of life, her own environment, and the natural landscape. Bernie first fell in love with art as a child in London. Born in the UK with her mother from Co Cavan and her father from co Donegal, she won a competition in the Borough of Brent at the age of 8 years old where she repeatedly painted her favourite muse... a horse. She studied art as a leaving cert subject and then left it behind when she commenced her career as a mental health nurse for 38 years. She finally returned to art and painting in 2000 when she moved back to Donegal and found herself attending art classes again when her off duty and rearing two children suited. She found painting very therapeutic and was an antidote to the stress of her career. Her dream was to be able to paint full time, which she realised in 2021 through early retirement from nursing and establishing herself as a professional artist. View Bernie's art and contact her via: www.bernieandersonartist.com
No article about Ballybofey-Stranorlar artists would be complete without mentioning the wonderful Celine McGlynn - although she will likely tell us off, as she's also the Chairperson of the Frances Browne Literary Festival :-). Celine is not only a talented artist, poet and storyteller in her own right, she works tirelessly to inspire others by leading art classes, co-ordinating the The Diamond Writers Group and much, much more. You can find her art and contact her at: www.celinemcglynn.com
We hope you've been inspired by the wonderful art on show. We would love for you to support our artists by liking and sharing their social media.
The hard part in compiling this list, is that we only have so much space and there are so many talented local artists. If you aren't mentioned here, and you have an online art presence, please do get in touch and we will happily share your information. Contact us via our social media channels or at info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com
