Welcome,

I grew up near a seaside village in Donegal. As a child I rambled through the countryside from dawn until dusk, enjoying the freedom of the rural wilderness. This is what sparked my love of and fascination with nature. The natural world is my greatest inspiration and teacher and also the subject I am most drawn to. I paint mainly in a representational style to capture moments in time and place that strike me and to hold onto my impression of that memory.

My main medium is oil paint but I sometimes work in watercolour, pen & ink and pastel and I am experimenting with resin also, though mainly for fun and curiosity.

I have participated in several group exhibitions such as Pluid at the Cowshed in Farmleigh and I am proud to be a regular contributor to Incognito. My works are in private collections nationally, in the UK, USA & Australia and also in the OPW State collection of Ireland. I have also received invaluable professional development funding from Fingal County Council through the Fingal Arts Office.

fodhlawardartist@gmail.com
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Fodhla Ward Art

Artist Statement

I paint landscapes of locations that are familiar and comforting, that feel like visiting an old friend. I choose places that I love to be because they fill me with the joy and awe of the natural world. I hope that the viewer will be reminded of their own special places when they see my work and feel that same sense of joy. There is always a sense of freshness with these places because of the changing seasons and fleeting light and so it always feels like I am creating something new when capturing a moment from a familiar place.

I love painting in oil because of its lovely, rich texture and bright, vivid colours that can evoke a bright, sunny day or an expansive sky. Its slow-drying time allows me to take my time and enjoy the process. Having grown up in a rural area where taking ones time is the lifestyle I can really appreciate the luxury of it. My favourite part of the process however is the drawing and sketching stages where the painting has the potential to be anything. I find this a relaxing and meditative experience.