SHOWCASING THE STUNNING WORKS OF LOCAL ARTIST, CONOR O’NEILL
Teddington Town prides itself on showcasing local businesses as well as celebrating the works of artists or crafts people and today we are delighted to highlight part of the wonderful portfolio of East Molesey part-time artist CONOR O’NEILL which reflects his love of the rugged coastline of the UK as well as capturing iconic images from Ireland.
When did you first get interested in painting?
It started when I was a kid. Someone handed me a brush and I realised you could make a glorious mess and call it art. I was hooked. The rest is a blur of paint splatters and crusty palettes.
I was brought up in the coastal town of Malahide in North County Dublin with somewhat Anglo-Irish feel to it. We had two tennis clubs, a Cricket Club, a sailing club and three Protestant churches and only one Catholic Church. That sort of sets the scene.
I loved doing art in school but I didn’t really paint outside of that. Summers were spent running between the different clubs and spending afternoons sunning ourselves at High Rock and having diving and swimming competitions. All of this created my love of the sea and the coast. However, one summer a local art dealer ran a local competition and I entered a painting of a Martello Tower beside Malahide beach and I won my age group. I was thrilled but never picked up a paint brush again until I was in my 60’s.
The thing with anything creative is that you’ve got to have imagination and that is something I’ve always had in abundance. I am also very practical and can usually turn my hand to most things and work out how to make something work or turn it into something.
Did you have lessons?
Not really. I did two seasons of winter evening classes with Kevin Chapman in Constables Yard in Hampton which were great fun and learned some invaluable techniques. The rest has been trial and a lot of error. YouTube is helpful but mostly just make mistakes and start again.
Your work seems to revolve around Acrylics —is this your favourite medium?
Definitely. Acrylic allows you to work art your own pace and you can make changes if necessary. I often leave a canvas just sit for a week or so on the easel and then add a bit here and there as I see the painting take shape over the period.
You often paint Ireland and Cornwall—what’s the story there?
Ireland is the family homeland, and I have some great friends in Cornwall who for some reason allow me to visit a lot. Both places have that ‘windswept soul-searching’ vibe I like. Also, they both have great fresh sea food and I love to cook.
Any particular favourite view?
Pentire Point, Stepper, Polzeath, Rock and all the north coast is fabulous in Cornwall. I would like to do more in Ireland on the west coast, but I’ll get there eventually.
Do you paint in situ or from photos?
Photos mostly. My knees aren’t built for plein air painting, so I take lots of photos when out walking, scribble a few notes, and paint with a mix of memory and a nice glass of wine.
Why have you never sold your work?
Having to get them framed slows up the whole process and although I can do my own framing I prefer to paint. If I am not doing that I also pull big logs out of the sea or the Thames and sand them down to get the wood grain. They look great in a room or hall with high ceilings! I don’t have a studio of even a Man Cave to work from so this also hinders me a bit.
How long does one piece take you?
It depends. Some come together in a week, others can take 4 or 5 weeks or even six months. I tend to paint in bursts— I am also still working so I don’t always have the time I want.
What’s your background outside of painting?
I spent years in advertising and marketing — I worked in the airline business and had partners in a paper and folding company with our factory in Runcorn near Manchester. With business fall outs and the financial crisis I ended up sticking money into a couple of properties and not having anyone to manage their renovation so took it on myself. I now still run a Home Renovations & Construction business.
Any dream spots to paint?
I have this very distant plan to head off in a camper van with paints on board and go on some European coastal runs and just see where it takes me. I should also get my act together and build a web site with my painting …….it could help fund the Van.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ANY OF CONOR’S WORK YOU CAN EMAIL HIM DIRECTLY HERE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HIS WORK. Conor O’Neill cc.oneill@btopenworld.com