ABOUT ME

A personal journey exploring the nature of creating picture books

Since a very young age I can only remember wanting to copy images from books and objects from life, render them in whatever medium was at hand and then show the results to my parents in the hope that they would praise my efforts. Today as I still attempt to master my art, nothing has changed except perhaps the extent of my audience.


Over the years I have spent much of my life thinking practicing and going through the sheer hard work that is required in order to present my work. I do not see this work as illustration but rather an exploration of the most exciting way I can think of to present ideas in a book format. Now, with the introduction of new technologies which appear to be evolving at such a rapid rate, the skills required to complete this self imposed discipline are becoming multiplied.


As I begin to explore the possibilities of these new and exciting technological advances, it is no longer enough for me to just consider how images marry with text in a hard copy printed and bound volume. Instead I am required to think what medium I will be presenting my ideas through and in turn these decisions now inform my practice. My books are published by a Belfast based publishing house called:

An tSnáthaid Mhór. The literal translation into English means "The Big Needle" and is the Irish description of a dragonfly.

I was born in Belfast and by the age of sixteen was a commercially active artist charging £10 to paint heavy metal album covers on the back of denim jackets. I was regularly commissioned by friends and family to draw or paint relatives or landscapes from photographs which spurred me on to enrol on a degree course in Graphic Design at the University of Ulster followed by a PGCE in Art and Design. 

I eventually earned a PhD in Celtic Illustration in 2003.

I have illustrated a number of books for publishers in Ireland and England. However, in 2005 I took stock of this practice and decided to change direction and establish an Irish based children’s picture book publishing house in my hometown of Belfast.


Since 2007 my publishing house (An tSnáthaid Mhór/Dragonfly Press) has produced six titles for children of various ages, each of which has either been shortlisted or won a children’s book award. I am keen to develop my publishing work through An tSnáthaid Mhór and showcase its titles at the international book fairs and beyond.

My illustration work is currently on display in the official Northern Ireland offices in Brussels as part of the Brussels Platform and many of my works are owned privately or displayed in local business offices.