Club Artists
Carrickfergus Art Club takes great pride in showcasing artists within the club. Many artists exhibit both in the club and solo exhibitions in art galleries throughout the province.
Anne Bates has a lifelong interest in art and has been a faithful member of the club for over thirty years. In that time she has painted in all mediums but particularly enjoys working in acrylics, taking inspiration from Irish landscapes and colours in nature. Anne never tires of trying various new techniques and learning from club demonstrations - she has exhibited in many church and art club exhibitions enjoying great success in selling much of her work.
Roy Caughey is renowned for his incredible oil portraits and landscapes. He has been strongly influenced by the loose brushwork of Monet and John Singer Sargent, but painting in his own recognisable style. As a self taught artist he works mainly from his studio at home and when weather permits enjoys the freedom of En plein air painting. Roy has been a valuable member of the art club for over 8 years, contributing and selling his stunning paintings at many exhibitions.
Helen Daniels is renowned for her beautiful animal paintings in oil, as a member of the club for over 15 years she has enjoyed many successful exhibitions selling her work, in that time she has also been a multiple winner of the Troopers Lane cup. For Helen art has been a hobby for as long as she can remember, influenced by nature she loves to get lost in many hours of painting animals and landscapes. Her enjoyment of art includes meeting like minded people at the club every week which is great for inspiration and sharing skills.
Magi Delahay has been an active member of the club for over five years. Although she has only been painting for ten years, she enjoyed art at school and like many artists, she renewed her enthusiasm for art in her fifties. Magi still goes to art classes to both hone her skills and to keep her enjoyment of creating wonderful paintings alive. She works mainly in watercolour and oils and has sold commissioned paintings as far as Australia and America . Magi paints a diverse range of subjects, if it sits still long enough, she paints it!
Doreen Kirkwood has been a member of the club for over 15 years. She began painting in 1999 after taking water colour classes by Chris Deardon she moved onto acrylics and tried pastels classes by Greg Moore. She exhibited for the first time in 2005 selling a magnificent Great Crested Grebe at her first club exhibition. Doreen finds herself influenced by modern painters like Alvaro Castagnet, Hazel Sloan and Jean Haimes. As exciting new mediums come onto the market Doreen is quick to experiment and is always on hand to share her new skills with the club. As it should be, she paints for her own pleasure and hopes to be painting for many years to come.
Olive MacDonald took up painting 15 years ago after early retirement. Having been a member of the club for many years she has always had an interest in art. Painting mainly in watercolour her subjects range from people to forests, but always returning to her first love – flowers. The light and shadow on a flower, along with the colour and shapes are always an inspiration for her. She has exhibited locally in galleries in Jordanstown, Carrickfergus and Whitehead, with solo exhibitions in The Gallery Whitehead. Olive has sold work, including commissions, as far as Australia. During her time with the club, she has won the Raymond Kelly Watercolour Cup on 3 occasions.
Kevin Mawhinney started painting in 2000 with the help of club member Dessie Monroe who introduced him to local artists Paul Henry and John H Craig. He was immediately hooked and hasn't looked back. He joined the club in 2017 and likes to paint landscapes in acrylics loving the unpredictability of Irish weather which gives the perfect opportunity to capture atmospheric clouds. He exhibits within the club and DW Gallery in Whiteabbey.
Wendy McClatchey rekindled her childhood love of art and joined the art club in 2015. After a long hiatus she went back to what she knows best, painting animals, especially dogs and horses . Working mainly in acrylics she captures her subjects in comical, quirky poses; always square on a simple black background. She sells and exhibits her paintings at The Gallery Whitehead and at the club exhibitions. You can find out more about Wendy and her art at www.wendymcclatchey.com and www.facebook.com/WendyMcClatcheyArt/
Jenny and Linda Strawbridge are a mother and daughter duo who began their art journey nine years ago under Paul Wilson’s tutelage, and joined CAC two years later to get together with like-minded people and to enjoy the “craic”. Jenny only started her art when she was over 70 and is still learning! Her initial mediums were watercolour and gouache but she ventured into oils which is now her #1 pleasure. Linda tried watercolour and oils but her first love was, and remains, pastels.
Chris Sturgess has been a member of the club for over 20 years. As an avid watercolourist, he has been greatly influenced by the artists Paul Holmes, Chris Deardon and Manson Blair. With an affinity for Donegal and the North coast of Ireland he paints beautiful landscapes, relishing the uncertainty that watercolour brings. A member of Ulster Watercolour Society and North Coast Artists, Chris has exhibited all over the province with his work in local collections, Europe and the USA. You can find Chris at www.causewaycoastartists.co.uk/chris-sturgess
Mark Winning is a photographer/artist based in Jordanstown specialising in landscapes, architecture, sports, and still-life. Mark enjoys the challenge of creating effective images that capture the beauty of the world around him employing mediums such as watercolour, oils and more lately encaustic art. Having been a member of CAC some 15 years ago he has recently become more active and has exhibited in the Crescent Arts Centre. Mark believes in the quote from Leonardo Da Vinci - 'A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light'. - so let there be light!!
