To celebrate its centenary, Cork County Council commissioned Blaise Smith to produce a body of work that would mark the operations of its roadworks division. The result is a collection of 26 wonderfully executed paintings which have looked deeply into an essentially bland subject, and found much to be admired.

In terms of painting style, Smith could be described as a photo-realist. Initially then, it was tempting to see this definition in its most literal sense, in that the paintings were actually copied from photographs. Closer inspection of the painted surface quickly dismantled this view, as the fluent application supported the plein-air approach actually used by the artist.

One of the most engaging things about Smith's paintings is the way in which paint is imbued with a serenity and calmness which belies these dirty, noisy, hulking machines. But the artist's eye is sensitive to many details, moving from road signs to bridge structures, from portraits of office workers to workmen on the roadside. In effect, Smith is the equivalent of a war artist - JCBs replacing tanks, fluorescent work-coats replacing military uniforms.

In a way, this exhibition has regenerated an enthusiasm for formal representation in painting, so that, for instance, the wonderful tension between the form and surrounding space in Grader in the Dripsey Glen illustrates how looking and recording through art can still awaken the senses. And even though Y2k issues have given many artists something atmospheric to chew on, painting from life is still very much alive.