Some say . . . that he barks incessantly at the moon on windswept nights.
Other’s say, that when he turns his head to the left, it makes a loud
audible clicking sound.
More say, that when you look into his eyes they glow a bright fluorescent
orange and reflect back the whole cosmos.
God I hate writing artist statements, so I’ll keep it short . . .
Born in Galway city in the west of Ireland in 1971, and despite his best efforts, he is
somehow, still alive today. Self-taught as an artist, Mike paints mainly using oil paints,
and he usually paints on canvas. But this can also include his clothes, skin, sofa,
carpets, soft furnishings or anything else that Mike happens to come in contact with.
An unhealthy attraction to water, Mike can usually be found near the coast,
rivers, lakes, or streams . . . at times, even a puddle will suffice. A love of
angling and the outdoor life, often immersed in nature to the point of
near drowning.
It’s no surprise the ancient Romans referred to Ireland as the land of perpetual gloom.
With summers akin to nuclear winters, storm-force winds accompanied by rain of
Biblical proportions. Attempting to paint the Irish landscape with anything other
than a mixed palette of greys, would seem somewhat ludicrous.
Perhaps due to a vitamin D deficiency from a lack of sunlight, Mike paints bright and
vivid seascapes, a topography filled with light . . . as he wishes to see it, and on
the very odd occasion, sometimes he does.
Mikes work can be found in many far-flung corners . . . but its normally found
more towards the centre - hanging above the fireplace. However, on a slightly
more serious note, it does include collections of the O.P.W, Galway Hospice and
Galway city Museum.