Fine Art & Antiques

Annual watercolour showcase to run at new Phoenix Park venue

The show, which opens on September 17th, will present more than 200 paintings in watercolour, gouache and pastel

‘The Early Morning Catch’ by Vincent Lambe

Arminta Wallace's face
Arminta Wallace
Sat Sep 15 2018 - 05:00

The Cowshed Gallery at Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park is the venue for this year’s annual exhibition by the Watercolour Society of Ireland.

The show, which opens on Monday, September 17th, is one of the biggest national group art shows in the country, presenting more than 200 paintings in watercolour, gouache and pastel. A wide variety of subjects are on offer – landscapes, seascapes, still life, animal and life studies as well as botanical and architectural work – and treatments range from the traditional to the highly contemporary.

“After 18 years in Dún Laoghaire Town Hall we have an exciting new move and are privileged to have been invited to exhibit at the historic Farmleigh estate, which is very much in keeping with the ethos of the Watercolour Society of Ireland,” says the society’s president Liam O’Herlihy.

“Farmleigh House was bought by Edward Guinness on his marriage in 1873, just three years after the society was formed, and it was extensively enlarged. It is surrounded by wonderful gardens and a lake restaurant, beautifully maintained by the OPW. Visitors to the exhibition could spend a very happy few hours also exploring the gardens and visiting the restaurant.”

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Founded in 1870, the Watercolour Society of Ireland has held exhibitions almost annually. Over the years its members have included Jack B Yeats, Mildred Anne Butler, Paul Henry, Bea Orpen, Walter Frederick Osborne, George Campbell, Rose Barton, Percy French and Harry Clarke.

Drawings 

This year’s exhibition, the 164th edition, will feature more than 200 paintings, drawings and limited edition signed prints by some 120 artists from Ireland and overseas. Prices are generally between €350 and €850, although there are less and more expensive works.

The centre of ‘Hugh McGuinness’ by John A Cooney

Among the artists taking part in this year’s show are Jayne Barry, Brid Clarke, Patrick Cahill, Ivor Coburn RUA, Chris Dearden RUA, Aine Divine, Pauline Doyle ANCA, Edward Freeney, Olivia Hayes, Les Jones ARUA, John Keating, Margaret Kent, Vincent Lambe, Grania Langrishe, Pamela Leonard, Anthony Loughran, Brett McEntagart RHA, Raymond Osborn, Tom Roche, Tom Ryan PPRHA, Susan Sex, John Short and Neil Shawcross RHA/RUA.

A free public event will be held on every day of the exhibition; these range from watercolour demonstrations by exhibiting artists through portrait painting, talks, guided tours and interactive workshops.

The show is at the Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh House, daily from Monday, September 17th, to Saturday September 29th, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, September 30th, 10am to 1pm. Admission is free. watercoloursocietyofireland.ie