Nature and Nurture
This exhibition by visual artists Jill Kelly and Nunce McAuley showcases their exploration of the theme of Nature and Nurture.
Inspired by the location of their studios, Ardgillan Castle is a unique space. It provides a nurturing and enriching environment where they have the freedom to experiment and respond to their stunning surroundings, both natural and historical.
About Jill Kelly
Jill Kelly worked in the Craft Design Tower Pearse Street for Mel Bradley and learned to handpaint on silk and helped produce scarves for John Rocha and Louise Kennedy.
“ I especially loved Chinese Silk Organza for its translucent beauty, which I feature now in my mixed media work. My photomontague are semi abstract altered images of my photographs. I experiment with variations of transferred and torn layered images and I primarily work from my imagination.”
“ I’m inspired by the amazing Beauty and Nature of Ardgillan Castle where im privlidged to have my art studio. Ardgillan is a space of complete freedom to explore my creativity: a refuge, and nourishment for the spirit…
A place to Nurture in Nature”.
Jill is also an Art and Ceramics teacher. She has taught ceramics for over twenty years and currently teaches small family classes in her studio here in Ardgillan.
“ I am especially interested in creating a space for students who can’t function in large groups of classes but thrive one to one which I can then taylor to their needs and interests. As a Special Needs Assistant for the last seventeen years, I have worked with students with various care needs who benefit from one to one classes”.
“It is such a rewarding experience when they see that they can have the freedom to express themselves in clay especially if they can’t express themselves in words”.
About Nunce McAuley
Nunce McAuley is a visual artist from Skerries with a studio at Ardgillan Castle. She paints mainly in Oils but often works in other mediums eg. Ink, Watercolour, Drawing, Printingmaking and Textile Art. Over many years, she has given art classes and workshops to people of all ages and abilities. She has had her work exhibited, and sold, at many exhibitions both solo and group. One of her works was presented by the Mayor of Fingal to the Dutch Ambassador and she has works in private collections in countries including New Zealand and Brazil.She feels privileged to be so close to nature in her everyday life. This is reflected in much of her work. Many of her works have been sea and skyscapes.
She is on the Committee of Fingal Poetry Festival. She has run workshops and managed events for this Festival. She is also a member of Boathouse Painters Plein Air Group and The Scéal Collective and has organised workshops and masterclasses for both.
She is a very versatile artist and loves to experiment and to collaborate with other artists (Including visual artists, musicians and poets) She is very committed to the community and passing on her skills.
Having a studio in Ardgillan Castle has been hugely influential to her work. She has the freedom to experiment and the perfect environment for inspiration. It is a very nurturing space. For her upcoming exhibition, she has completed a series of small paintings of fruit and vegetables. While not landscapes, they are also inspired by nature. She hopes these influences all come through in her work.
This exhibition will run until the 14th of December.