BBC correspondent Maggie Taggart among guests at Brian’s latest exhibition

BBC correspondent Maggie Taggart among guests at Brian’s latest exhibition

10 April 2024

FORMER BBC arts correspondent Maggie Taggart was among the guests at the launch of an art exhibition at The Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick one Saturday.

Maggie, whose father came from Downpatrick, has a family connection to the artist Brian Trainor, whose exhibition, ‘It's a Beautiful World’, includes more than 50 paintings, many featuring St Patrick's Way and the Lecale countryside.

The exhibition was opened by Martina Purdy, who is a writer and guide on St Patrick’s Way.

She said she was delighted to see so much interest in the oil paintings which capture not just the beauty of the area but the joy of the artist.

“Brian is very well travelled but I think no matter where he was in the world he would paint this area of natural beauty around County Down because it is not just in his eyes, it is in his heart and his soul,” she added.

At the launch Brian was surrounded by family and friends, including Killough artist Jim Manley and his wife, Margaret.

Brian said it was a relief to launch the exhibition as it was “hard work” getting more than 50 paintings framed and exhibited.

He looked forward to enjoying the remainder of the exhibition which runs until  April 29.

He said The Saint Patrick Centre was an “ideal location” for the exhibition which features images of Ballyhornan, as well as Down Cathedral.

His wife, Donna, said there had been a lot of interest in the paintings, even from as far away as Qatar.

The first painting to be sold was entitled ‘St Patrick's Way’.