Daily Life

My dobok Until yesterday, I couldn’t have sketched my dobok, the white uniform you wear when kicking around in a taekwon-do session. But I hurt my hamstring doing a flying high ...

Before we left the house to go to town this morning, I picked up my orange bag that I carry all my sketching stuff in. “Are you bringing that?” asked my ...

I was stuck indoors today: I have a chest infection and a broken, well, bum (see yesterday’s post about a flying high kick in Taekwon-Do that went wrong). Sometimes you ...

It couldn’t last. Five classes in to my new favourite sport, Taekwon-Do, and I’m injured. What did I expect? I’m 51 years old and I’ve joined a martial arts class. ...

The journey to the top of the hill was wonderful. At Taekwon-Do last night, the instructor took us though kicking moves. He explained the stance we should be taking and ...

Last week I realised I only had ONE tricolour in my collection of sketches for my upcoming book. One! I am a passionate patriot and I love my country. It ...

I sketched the River Corrib the other day. I didn’t get cold, I didn’t get wet…and in the two hours I sat there I was in bliss. “Follow your bliss.If ...

I’m working intensely to finish a book for the end of February, and so I find myself in Galway City a lot these days. “An Urban Sketcher’s Galway” will be ...

(Never) Always Work With Animals And Children Yesterday I saw some beautiful beech leaves that I wanted to paint. There was something so magical about them. The colours, the hues…I don’t ...

I love sketching at the bus stop while I wait for the kids. No one can disturb me. The car is tiny but it doesn’t matter. And the only subjects ...

The other day, my husband Marcel and I were driving into town. There was a buzzing coming from somewhere in the car. “There’s a bee in the car,” said Marcel, who ...

The end-of-year holiday over Christmas and New Year provides a great opportunity for sketching family, one of which I take full advantage.

Hallowe’en marks the end of autumn and the start of the long dark days of winter. Going for walks with my lovely teenagers – and sketching – are good ways ...

PREMIUM. A commission to draw hospital staff from life in University College Hospital was rewarding but challenging – for me and my sitters, who were not used to sitting still. ...

My daughter and her pal were invited to take part in a kids’ game show for TG4. The girls’ sporting approach and constant smiles were an inspiration.

I sketched a few events at Culture Night this year. It’s a national, annual event which takes place every September, and a great opportunity to get a dose of culture. ...

PREMIUM. Family weddings are always fun, even if it’s not the bride whose nerves are in pieces…our trip to Rye in the summer was made the more memorable by my ...

Our koi carp didn’t do a whole lot, but they were beautiful, and were an oasis of calm in my busy day. We lost them recently due to our own ...

PREMIUM. The life and colour of Galway City in the summer are legendary. I’ve caught a few of my favourite Galway sights in watercolour over the last couple of weeks.

PREMIUM. Sometimes the sun arrives to stay for a while in Ireland and we remember what a paradise we live in. Here are a few of my sketches of a ...