A DOWNPATRICK artist who is the youngest ever member of the Ulster Water Colour Society is to exhibit in Ireland’s biggest and most prestigious art exhibition next month.
Connor Maguire has recently been selected to show his self-portrait entitled ‘Man in the Hat’ at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. It will be the second time he has been chosen to exhibit along with Ireland’s finest artists.
The 41 year-old — who is a former De La Salle High student — says his painting is a side profile piece which was completed in oils on canvas. Out of a total of 2,500 entries submitted to the exhibition, only 300 or so are successful.
Connor was shortlisted last year for the Zurich Portrait prize where he was only one of 25 artists throughout Ireland to be up for a winning prize of two thousand euros.
This gave him the opportunity to exhibit in the National Gallery of Ireland which he describes as being “surreal and a dream come true.”
Connor said: “One of my earliest memories is of me scribbling away at a table with my grandfather, Broderick Maguire.
“My grandfather, an accomplished draughtsman, carpenter, designer and painter, could do anything that he applied himself to and introduced me to pencil drawing and charcoal. He inspired and captivated me, seeing what he could accomplish with a pencil and a paintbrush. I attempted to paint as good as he did and believe I’m still trying.”
Connor continued: “I recall my art teacher at high school, Mr McLaughlin, was a terrific influence on me too. It was one of the few classes I actually enjoyed.
“After A-Levels, I took up art at the University of Ulster and have been painting non-stop since. I won the Chairman’s Award in 2003, and have went on to win the Stephens Award, Anna Cheyne Award and Carnathan Galleries Award.
“I work three days a week at the Assumption Grammar as an art technician. I work with the students, helping them explore print making and they seem to love it.”
Connor also works steadily as a freelance artist, specialising in painting from watercolours to oils, printmaking in the form of woodcuts, linocuts, drawings in charcoal and graphite exhibiting, and in case he might have a spare moment or two, he is a professional picture framer too.
Most of Connor’s paintings are inspired by themes of portraiture and he has a keen eye for figure and character in familiar settings like a simple family meal. He takes inspiration form the essence of someone which he can capture through some serious study.
Taking part in the exhibition, which is now in its 189th year, is another stepping block to Connor gaining recognition on the international stage where interest has been coming from American art curator, Didi Menendez and the RJD Gallery in New York.
Both notable art critics and buyers who he has been in contact with could well result in him exhibiting further afield.
Connor has also took part in BBC Radio 4 programmes talking about his work with broadcasting journalists, Perminder Khatkar and Helen Marks.
Last year he featured on BBC 2’s ‘The Arts Show’ talking about his work with Marie Louise Muir.
He says it was a “cool feeling” to be featured alongside actor Ciaran Hynds who was featured in the same programme.
Connor was shortlisted as Artist of the Year in 2013 in association with Artists & Illustrators Magazine, exhibiting in London’s prestigious Mall Galleries alongside some of Britain’s greatest artists.
He was also shortlisted as Artist of the Year in 2017 with the same magazine. winning the West Dean College Award exhibiting again in the Mall Galleries in London.
This RHA exhibition will catapult Connor further than he can imagine and said he’d like to concentrate on portraiture and introduce more figures into the paintings on the theme of realism and experiment on learning new things in printmaking with woodcuts and etching.
More of Connor’s work can be viewed on his website www.connormaguire.com.