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Page updated 27/2/2024
Algie, Christine (1971)
Christine Algie: Pet Portrait/Wildlife Artist
Barlow, Robert (active 1940s)
Presumed to be from Northern Ireland – the fine postcard views (below) by the Scholastic Production Company of Belfast are the only traces of the artist that I have found thus far.
Left to right: “Tufted Duck, Late Afternoon” ; “Brent Geese at Dawn” and “Pintail at Daybreak”.
Benington, Michael (1933 – 2022)
Teacher, artist and naturalist.
Michael Benington was born in Lisburn and was educated at the Friends School and the new University of Ulster at Coleraine where he completed a Bachelor of Science dissertation on ‘Prey Selection by Breeding Sparrowhawks’….
“Peregrine on Cliffs” dated 1968, oil on canvas (29.5″ x 23.5″), unsold at Bishop & Miller, Norfolk on the the 14/2/2024.
Best, Gemma
Conroy, Don (1949)
Dubliner Don Conroy is a man of many talents — a writer, a television presenter, a naturalist, an environmentalist and a working artist who has had many exhibitions. He studied life drawings and culture at the National College of Art and then worked as designer and illustrator for advertising agencies as well as in the theatre.
He went on to present his own TV show Paint For Fun on RTE television, but is best known to generations of Irish children as ‘Uncle Don’ during his appearances on RTE’s “The Den”.
The author of numerous wildlife and children’s books he now lives and works in County Wexford.
“Ghost Watch (Barn Owl)”.
“The Hunted ” watercolour (15″ x 21″), sold at Mealy’s – 23/3/2022 for €110.
Untitled birds of prey scene – acrylic on paper (15″ x 21″), sold at Whyte’s – 18/10?2022 for €210.00.
Costello, Padraig
“First Fall” watercolour – available for sale on the artist’s website.
Culhane, Melissa
Melissa Culhane (née Doran) grew up in Leitrim and studied architecture and digital media technology before becoming an illustrator. Her favourite medium is digital collage that combines lots of hand drawn elements.
Naturama – a bestselling book written by Michael Fewer and illustrated by Melissa Doran – Gill Books (2016).
Cullen, Andreas (1972)
I was born in Dublin and developed an interest in wildlife and especially birds at an early age. I am essentially a self taught artist, having given up art shortly after leaving school, opting rather to study Engineering and Environmental Sciences at University. I have only come back to painting in the last 5 years, and now spend many hours in the field, observing, sketching and photographing wildlife and their habitats. Living in Ireland, close to the Wicklow Mountains National Park gives me ample opportunities to gather reference material on the wildlife of northern Europe. Red squirrels, hares, red grouse, geese, ducks, red kites, foxes and deer are but a small selection of the creatures to be seen in the park and the surrounding areas.
The subjects for my tropical bird paintings are somewhat harder to find. A morbid fear of “creepy crawlies” rules out a trip to the rain forest to see these animals in their natural habitat. Fortunately, there are wildlife parks, zoos, and people with private collections where I can view and study these beautiful creatures in relative safety. Some of my favourite places to gather reference material is Berlin Zoo’s ‘World of Birds’, and London Zoo’s Blackburn pavilion. I also like to sketch in the Natural History Museum.
Most of my tropical plant reference material comes from the palm house at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and from the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin.
I am happy to undertake commissions and you can contact me to discuss your requirements via my website. High quality prints and original paintings are also available through the website.
Left to right: “European Bee Eaters with Dragon Fly” acrylic on canvas board (12″ x 15.5″); “Little Rascals” acrylic on canvas (20″ x 24″). Originals available through The Green Gallery and prints available through my website.
Daly, David
Professional Wildlife Artist specialising in watercolours.
D’Arcy, Gordon
Belfast born, Gordon D’Arcy is an environmental writer, artist and educator. The main focus of his work has been the limestone habitat of the Burren. Guiding Burren lovers and visitors alike, educating schoolchildren, and lecturing in the Burren College of Art, he has always kept his enthusiasm for this internationally important landscape. The author of several natural history books, he has illustrated Ireland’s Animals: Myths, Legends and Folklore (2010) and Ireland’s Birds: Myths, Legends and Folklore (2015) both by Niall MacCoitir.
“The Breathing Burren” published by The Collins Press (2016) contains many of the artist’s watercolours and is a good introduction to his work – if you can find a copy!
Dorrian, Terry
“Fox in a Winter Landscape” mixed media (18″ x 28″), sold at Ross’s – 5/10/2016 for £100.00.
Friers, Julian PPRUA (1956)
Julian Friers was born in Bangor, County Down and attended the Belfast College of Art. In 1977 he had his first solo exhibition and has gone on to become recognised as one of the foremost wildlife painters in Europe.
“Shelduck, 1975” oil on board (20″ x 24″) sold Morgan O’Driscoll 5/2016 – €260.00.
Left to right: “Eagle” watercolour drawing (16″ x 12″), unsold at Ross’s 7/12/2016; and “Barn Owl in Flight” oil on canvas (20″ x 30″), sold at Gormley’s – 13/9/2016 for £1,400.00.
“Puffins on Rathlin” oil on canvas (18″ x 24″).
Left to right: “Blue Tit & Great Tit” watercolour drawing (13″ x 9″); and “Wheatear” watercolour drawing (10″ x 12″), sold at Ross’s – 6/12/2017 for £140 and £220 respectively.
“Golden Plover” gouache/watercolour (11″ x 15″), sold at Gormley’s – 3/12/2019 for £380.00.
“Otter, the Meetings of the Waters, Killarney” oil on canvas, sold at Weschler’s Auctioneers, Maryland, USA – 8/7/2021 for $800.00.
“Falcon” oil on board (14″ x 10″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 3/8/2021 for €900.00.
Garau, Daniela
Daniela Garau is a self-taught artist from Italy living in Ireland for the last 11 years, she began producing paintings and drawings from a very early age.
Influenced by figurative art and inspired by Natural subjects she creates art pieces for local businesses and private clients working with oil, acrylic colours and pencils, focusing on local flora and fauna.
Left to right: “Hedgehogs” polycolour pencils (8″ x 12″) and “Bumble Bee” polycolour pencils and acrylics.
Helps, William (1978)
Cork born wildlife artist and illustrator.
A jigsaw of Mizen Head produced by Gosling Games and one of a number illustrated by the artist.
Huston, William (1938 – 2022)
William Huston was born in Belfast on the 4th August 1938 and grew up in the Sailortown docks area in the north of the city. He attended Mariners Public Elementary School and afterwards Mountcollyer Secondary school. He was self taught, although his father also painted – oils and watercolours and did sign writing for local shops, as did my dad in the 1970s. His full name was William Edens Huston, so some paintings may have been signed W E Huston, as I recall. After leaving school he worked as a bill poster for Allen’s Belfast. He began selling pictures in the 1970s, first to neighbours, then galleries. He had his first exhibition in Howard Ruderman’s in Belfast. He also exhibited in the Ulster Academy. Ref: Gillian Huston.
“Teal” gouache on board (12″ x 19″), sold at Ross’s – 6/11/2014 for £40.
Left to right: “Norwegian Fieldfare” gouache on board (20″ x 14″), sold at Ross’s 3/10/2018 for £30; and “Bird Study“, gouache on board (20″ x 14”), sold at Ross’s 16/1/2019 for £60.
“Jay” gouache on board (11″ x 17″), sold at Ross’s – 13/2/2019 for £30.00.
Left to right: “Wren” and “Robin on Holly” watercolour on card – both (12″ x 8.5″), purchased from McAfee Auctions – 17/6/2021.
“Wrens” 1976 watercolour, purchased at Scarva Auctions 11/2021.
Majury, Sara
Sarah Majury is a Northern Irish Artist. She graduated from the Belfast School of Art with BA (Hons) Fine and Applied Art and works from her studio in County Down.
Sarah works in a variety of medium and specialises in wildlife and animal art. Growing up in the County Down countryside, she has a passion for all wildlife, nature and its conservation.
Miller, David (1966)
British wildlife artist.
“Life on the Colony, Great Saltee” oil on board (30″ x 42″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 25/11/2019 for €1,100.
Milliken, Robert W (1920 – 2014)
A former president of the Northern Ireland Ornithologists’ Club and a member of the Northern Ireland Birds Record Committee.
“Woodcock over Wetlands” watercolour drawing (7″ x 10″), sold at Ross’s – 7/9/2016 for £200.00.
“Brent Geese, Strangford” watercolour (20″ x 30″), sold at Adam’s – 27/9/2017 for €1,000.
“Pheasants” watercolour drawing (7″ x 9″), sold at Ross’s – 6/11/2019 for £180.00.
“Partridges” watercolour (14.5″ x 19.5″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 18/11/2019 for €220.00.
Monahan, Hugh Cecil Charles (1914 – 1970)
Hugh Monahan was born in Dublin, son of a high court judge of the Indian Civil Service, and spent most of his early childhood in India. To attend school, he was sent back to England, where he eventually studied History at Pembroke College in Cambridge, and Art at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.
“Wigeon from the houseboat, Wolferton” oil on canvas (16″ x 20″), sold at Woolley & Wallis – 7/12/2011 for £170.00.
“Wild Duck, Co.Sligo” print from a 1955 calendar produced by J & L F Goodbody Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, Clara, Co.Offaly.
Moore, John R
A self-taught artist from Cullybackey, County Antrim, specialising in wildlife and sporting scenes.
Mullarney, Killian (1958)
Killian Mullarney is an Irish ornithologist, bird artist and bird tour leader. He designed a series of Irish definitive stamps for An Post illustrating Irish birds issued between 1997 and 2004.
Above: Two of the the artist paintings appeared on Ireland’s Europa stamps in April 2019.
O’Ceannobháin, Jason (1982)
Kildare based Wildlife and Portrait artist.
“White Tailed Sea Eagle” acrylic on canvas (20″ x 24″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 3/10/2016 for €500.00.
Left to right: “Tranquil Tide” acrylic on canvas (15.5″ x 19.5″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 26/6/2017 for €400.00; and “Reside by Twilight” acrylic on canvas (12″ x 16″), sold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 30/1/2017 for €240.00.
O’Clery, Michael
www.michaeloclery.blogspot.com
O’Connell, Conor (1999)
For as long as I can remember, I have had a strong passion for art, especially drawing and painting wildlife. Growing up in a small rural town in the west of Ireland, I would (and still do) spend hours roaming the countryside, always on the lookout for foxes, badgers, pheasants and so on. I frequently sketch on location, trying as much as possible to observe wildlife from life rather than photographs when possible, as in my opinion the acute observation of birds and mammals in their natural habitat is the key to life-like artistic depictions, while also being thoroughly rewarding.
I am aware, however, that I do have so much more to learn in the field of wildlife art and I try to improve my skills with every painting. I am admittedly a huge perfectionist, and consider failure as an important learning curve on the road to success. My bin is almost always full of discarded paper from failed painting attempts as I never let a piece I feel to be not good enough out of my studio.
I am happy to undertake commissions in wildlife, landscape, and architectural art – feel free to contact me via my website.
More here: Conors-Art
“Slim Pickings” watercolour (6″ x 13″) – A group of woodcock emerge from the safety of the forest undergrowth to forage at the edge of a snow-covered field as the evening light fades.
“Lapwings in Spring” watercolour (12″ x 16″).
Left to right: “Kingfisher” and “Corncrake” both watercolour (16″ x 12″).
O’Mara, Tom
“Pintail” dated 1983, watercolour.
Parker, Richard Dunscombe (c.1805 – 1881)
Richard Dunscombe Parker was an Anglo-Irish gentleman-farmer who lived at Landscape House, Sunday’s Well, Cork. He was a sportsman and an exceptional painter of birds.
Male and female Peregrine Falcons – a magnificent plate from “Birds of Ireland” Paintings by Richard Dunscombe Parker published by the Blackstaff Press, Belfast in a limited edition (250 copies) in 1983. 40 superb paintings on high-quality paper – suitable for framing – and you can expect to pay at least £500!
The White Stork.
Parkinson-Brown, Sylvia
Pound, Adele
Proud, Alastair (1954)
Rooney, J.P (1950) aka Martin Hasson
“Pheasant on the Edge of Breagh Wood ” oil on board (22.5″ x 23.5″), unsold at Morgan O’Driscoll’s – 27/9/2022.
Van Gelderen, Gerrit (1926 – 1994)
“To the Waters and the Wild: Adventures of a Travelling Wildlife Film Maker” a very entertaining memoir by Gerrit Van Gelderen, published in 1985 by Brandon Books, Dingle. Well worth tracking down a copy!
Vaughan, Robert
www.robertvaughanillustrations.com
Ward, Richard (1944)
“Swans” oil on canvas (16″ x 20″), unsold at Ross’s – 31/5/2017.
“Peregrine Falcons at play in West of Ireland” watercolour (18″ x 26″), sold at Sheppard’s, Durrow – 5/2/2021 for €160.00.
“Mallard and Young” oil on canvas (16″ x 20″), unsold at Ross’s – 7/8/2019.
1989 set of Game Bird stamps designed for An Post.
Zsamba, Panna (1987)
Panna is a Dublin based, self-taught watercolour artist born in Budapest, Hungary.
She spent her childhood summers in the country, at Lake Balaton, where she got the chance to connect to nature through activities like fishing and playing near water. She didn’t get far from the wilderness back in the city either, where she lived close to the river Danube, next to the nature reserve in the Northern part of the city. These years spent getting scratches and bumps while being outside show their influence in her art as she learnt how to observe nature.
In 2009 she graduated from college where with a major in English Literature and Culture, writing her thesis on “Dragons in Celtic Mythology and Literature”, which marked her interest in the supernatural and Celtic culture. However, from there she started a career in software development, which she learnt on her own during college years.
After trying herself in many artistic hobbies from wooden ship models, cross-stitching and sewing, in 2019 she heard the call for her true passion, painting. While working in software she was drawn towards digital art, but because spending most of her time in front of a screen she found more artistic excitement and challenge in traditional media.
Panna chooses watercolour and ink as materials to capture her subjects because these light mediums provide a fairy-tale-like atmosphere to her work. This lightness is balanced by the sharp outlines of figures, inspired by superhero comic and manga books of her childhood. She loves strong contrasts and defined figures so most of her subjects are represented in a dramatic manner.
Panna’s paintings invite you to see beyond what is obvious, forget about what you believe to be real, and lose yourself in the stories these pictures depict. While the figures are always in the centre of attention, highlighted with comic-book-style-influenced ink outlines, the background often hints at the human existence, showing the faint silhouettes of buildings, or sometimes ruins, pointing out the age of the stories used. Watercolour adds a lightness to her compositions, balancing the harsh outlines, while the eeriness of nature, some darkness, a threat always lingers in there as well.
“Old Nog: Feathers of Tales.I.” 2020, ink and watercolour on paper (23.5″ x 16.5″).
“Curlew” on mixed media paper (16.5″ x 11.5″).
Left to right: “Rooster.II.” 2020, coloured pencil on paper (11.5″ x 8″) and “Rascals” ink and watercolour on paper (16.5″ x 11.5″).
Art for Art's Sake! 