In this exhibition of 30 paintings, I wanted to find out what makes Belfast, Belfast. Is it

actually distinct from anywhere else in Britain and Ireland? Architecturally it’s not

particularly noteworthy so it has to be the people that make Belfast the city it is. I was

going to call this exhibition ‘Belfast, Ginger and Proud’ as the cliched view of red headed

people sums up the essence of the city- pale, awkward, fiery, funny, foul mouthed and

friendly, Belfast people are different from anywhere else.

I have used this exhibition to ask multiple questions. Would an art loving Nationalist buy

a painting of Flute Bands marching and would a Unionist buy a painting of an Irish Music

Bar scene? Are both communities exactly the same but just wear different scarves? How

can we in Ulster relate so deeply with the Israeli and Palestinian people but can’t

empathise with Ethiopians fleeing conflict? Are we insular or outward looking or both

when it suits us? Are we all bigots?

At the core of all my work is community and the massive role it plays in peoples

everyday well being and happiness. I paint the ordinary and in focusing on it try to find

the extraordinary. Everyday mundane moments are stripped back to expose the poetic

and magical. I hope!

This exhibition was shown at Bangor Carnegie Library in May 2024 for one month.

All my life I have listened to people being critical of Bangor and its steep decline and so I wanted to create an exhibition which documents the glory days of Bangor in the 50’s and 60’s and juxtapose those paintings with images of Bangor in more recent years. 

When I was very young, on a Saturday morning, my Dad would walk us on a circuit of Bangor visiting Harry Blaney’s Butchers, McKeown’s Fish Shop, Peppers Fruit Shop, Parkes Newsagents and Wee Wellworths. All these places bar one have gone now. In my lifetime, the Flagship centre has been built, opened, closed and become derelict. But things are beginning to look up. The Courthouse, Seacourt Print Workshop, Boom Studios and Market House are doing what Culture does best- challenge, inform and bond us together, helping to build sustainable, cohesive, vibrant communities. Hopefully now Bangor can become a success story again. 

This exhibition, which took place at Artisann Gallery in East Belfast during February 2025, was inspired by my interest in Religion. I was in South America last year and Religious imagery was very prevalent everywhere. I came back here and I spent 5 weeks outside the City Hall at the Belfast Christmas Market and realised that religious imagery was everywhere here as well. I’m not talking about the Catholic/Protestant tribal thing but the relationship people have with their religion and how that manifests itself in everyday street life and life in general. I’ve always felt that the point of being religious is to make you a better person and society a better place but I feel that now that is not the point at all- but what is the point? This exhibition is not a ‘slag off religion exercise’ but more so an insight into my thinking and my confusion as to why nuns support Trump and Preachers work the streets of Belfast in an endless pursuit of lost souls. And after painting these, I still have no idea!

An outdoor exhibition at Peckham Levels, South London, showcasing 25 6ft paintings of the beauty in Peckham. This exhibition will be up for one year until December 2024 and after the exhibition ends I will be donating every painting to local schools, youth centres, charities and businesses throughout South London.

I am also holding a charity raffle, 100% of the profits will go to St. Giles Trust and if you donate any amount at all, you have a chance of winning one of these paintings in December 2024! Make sure to add your full name and email address for a chance of winning.

Donation link here

In April 2023, I held a solo exhibition at Peckham Levels where I exhibited 35 paintings of different spots in Peckham.

In December 2022, I held a one-week solo show in London’s Southbank, Oxo Tower Gallery. I exhibited 55 paintings showcasing the beauty of South London. The paintings were of places such as Camberwell, Peckham, Brixton, Bermondsey, Elephant and Castle.

A solo exhibition held at the AMP gallery in Peckham, South London showcasing 17 paintings of my life in London. Every picture was taken from my Iphone camera, depicting every day aspects of my life living in South London over the past 5 years.

In August 2019, I held a solo exhibition in Belfast at the Sea Holly Gallery above the Harp Bar in Belfast, including paintings, sculptures and installations.

Made from a gorgeous silk, Banger artist Shauna Fox has translated the staple floral mass bouquet print from Caólum’s graduate collection “Mother Ireland” in her unique painterly style. With a rolled hem finish, clashing mix of colour this large headscarf serves to be a great staple for anyones wardrobe with its generous sizing. Wear around the head, through your hair, treat it as an accessory or if your feeling adventurous wear it around your chest/bust as a top!

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