"You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been

A place that has to be believed, to be seen."

(From Walk On, U2)

The spark for this painting was seeing a woman walking diagonally across our local beach purposefully as if towards a person not there, but dressed for the city. I asked a friend, Carly, to model for me in this similar walk towards an indefinite or unseen destination. The actual setting is Great South Wall at the entrance to Dublin Harbour, commenced in 1715 but built in its present form between 1765 and 1795, at the time one of the longest sea walls in the world. It is terminated by the red (port) Poolbeg Lighthouse. The parallel North Bull Wall was later laid out by Captain William Bligh (of Mutiny on the Bounty), ending at the green (starboard) lighthouse. In the distance is the Baily Lighthouse at the northern end of Dublin Bay at Howth.

Enquire about a signed print