T H E L I B E R T I E S S E R I E S
This series of detailed work was originally hand drawn on location in the heart of the Liberties, Dublin 8. ‘The Liberties’ was an area so named for being ‘beyond the walls’ of Dublin city, originally founded by the Vikings. A place that is steeped in over 800 years of history, The Liberties today is a combination of layers of the past and present moulded together.
Music, art, breweries, distilleries, markets, ideas and characters. These and their stories make up the soul of this special place. I have always had a love for industrial architecture, developed from back when I studied set design. There's an amazing air of history in the old buildings around this area. I wanted to capture the story that's been built here, in the old walls and hidden places.
Introducing - 'Sugar House Lane'
I chose to draw this well known street for its now famous brewing history. As every Irish person will know, The Guinness Gates on this street have become a hot spot for tourists. I wanted to reclaim it a little, shown in the quiet moments, the history in every brick with the view of innovation and growth at the end of the lane through the clean panelled windows of the Enterprise Centre.
'Sugar House Lane'
42 cm x 59.4cm
Limited Edition of 20
Introducing - 'St. Patricks Tower'
This piece looks out towards St Patrick's tower, formerly of the Roe & Co distillery but now also part of the larger Guinness enterprise.
The roofs of the old store houses are that of 12 and 13, ( of which the larger 'Hop House 13' was named after )
They are buildings in waiting as the area anticipates a planned revitalisation of the ageing storehouses. A place awaiting its adaptation into the future.
'St Patrick's Tower'
42 cm x 59.4 cm
Limited edition of 20
As there's no getting away with standing at an easel in Dublin and not draw in some attention to yourself, I thought I'd conclude this preview with a funny story behind this piece 'Sugar House Lane'
As I stood here for nearly a week in peak Irish Summer, each day the Dublin Tour Bus would go by and stop right where I was standing for people to take a photograph of the gates. Eventually the bus driver would stop (every hour) and ask me if I was finished yet with regular easel turnarounds to show off the progress.
I became a regular part of the tour for the following three days. An urban legend as some would have it..