Enjoy this story with The Sea of Irish Dream by Beltaime, a song where the salty Irish air carries the echoes of chanting druids, dancing spirits, and the laughter of those who welcome summer’s embrace.

The Irish coastline is a masterpiece in itself—wild, unpredictable, and endlessly inspiring.

For these seven artists, the ocean is more than just a subject; it is a force, a presence, and a story waiting to be told through color, texture, and movement.

Niall Naessens: Framing the Atlantic in Magic Realism

Dublin-born and now residing in West Kerry, Niall Naessens transforms seascapes into dreamlike narratives. While primarily a printmaker, he also paints, crafting images that hold a sense of magic realism. “I see my images as backdrops to events; maybe a gust of wind or an artist observing dawn,” he explains. His work is less about capturing a place and more about evoking the feeling of being there.

Isobel Henihan: Immersing in the Sea’s Energy

For Henihan, the sea is not just a source of inspiration—it’s part of her daily ritual. She swims every morning in Dublin Bay, an experience that directly informs her paintings. “Sometimes a piece will be more about somewhere between the water and the sky, and the sensation of being there,” she reflects. Through restrained palettes and expressive textures, she captures the quiet intensity of the ocean.

Cora Murphy: Painting the Essence of Memory and Change

Based in Cork city, Murphy’s works are deeply rooted in both landscape and personal history. Fishing trips with her father and road journeys along the Mayo and Clare coastlines find their way into her canvases. “After years of ‘freeze’ and ‘stuckness,’ it feels as if change and a massive growth spurt is upon us,” she says. Her latest textured seascapes explore the tension between grounding and transformation.

Sarah McKenna: Storytelling in Ceramic Waves

McKenna brings the sea to life through ceramics, using color and form to express Ireland’s coastal beauty. Her Irish Coast Collection reflects the colors and moods of the Atlantic, from stormy navy hues to golden sands. “I wanted to capture the changing palettes of sky, sea, and landscape,” she explains. The ocean’s shifting tones find their place in everyday objects, turning mugs and vases into coastal narratives.

Carol Hodder: Layers of Memory, Texture, and Place

Hodder’s expressive oil paintings evoke visceral emotions tied to place and memory. Inspired by childhood fishing trips and harsh northern landscapes, her process mirrors the elements she paints. “Weather changes between the mountains, the black choppy water, that sense of fear and urgency, and on reaching sanctuary, the rain pelting on the corrugated roof,” she describes. Her brushstrokes echo the unpredictability of the sea.

Ivan Daly: Capturing the Energy of the Clare Coast

For Daly, painting the sea is about movement and rhythm. Working with loose brushstrokes and strong compositions, he mirrors the constant shifts of the coastline. “I aim to imply realism with an almost abstract treatment of paint,” he explains. His approach keeps the surface alive, ensuring each piece feels just as dynamic as the crashing waves it represents.

Donald Teskey: Monumental Visions of the Atlantic

Teskey’s bold landscapes embody the raw power of Ireland’s coast. His large-scale paintings balance abstract composition with a deep reverence for nature. He describes the Mayo coastline as “geo-poetic,” a place where land and water collide with elemental force. Through heavy textures and commanding structures, his work conveys the relentless energy of the Atlantic.

Ireland’s coastline is more than a backdrop—it is a presence, a force that shapes both landscapes and lives. Through their unique perspectives, these artists ensure that the ocean’s voice continues to echo on canvas, in ceramic, and within the stories their works tell.

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