Since before I can remember, I’ve always had a love of art and a fascination of nature. As a child I would be constantly drawing faces and various animals. After school (if I wasn’t kicking a ball), I’d be catching and studying bees and butterflies or some type of little fish.

My education however was strictly academic. Sport got me through secondary school. It wasn’t until years later, after doing business in college and emigrating to the USA, that I rediscovered my creative side. I had been working as a painter and decorator and was encouraged to take on some short Art classes. I had a couple of pieces in a group exhibition and out of the blue won a scholarship to the Yard School of Art, Montclair, NJ. At the time I honestly thought that it was my mates pulling a prank on me. But actually this was to be the beginning of my creative career.

I took on more courses in advanced painting and decorating techniques. For the next few years I worked for a company called The Magic Brush. Here I had the opportunity to paint murals, learn a vast array of applications and develop a thorough understanding of paint.

In 1995 I returned to Ireland and set up business as a decorative painter/artist. Things went well and I quickly became established. I completed many artistic commissions and reckon I’ve decorated half the pubs in the country. In 1998 I took a year out and travelled around Australia. I was very taken with the aboriginal art, especially the spiritual connection between the artist and the subject.