Come to Beara for a photography workshop

(painting workshops will resume from September)

My collie Shara 2000 feet above Glenbeg Lake on the Beara Peninsula assisting me in taking pictures. No-one to bother us, roaming Lackawee in search of pictures, lots of fresh air. Picture below shows Glenbeg from the summit of Lackawee. Canon EOS 5D 24-105mm May 2008

Would you like to photograph from my perspective? Come out into the wilds of the Beara Peninsula in South West Ireland and see what I see. Wander the storm battered cliffs, pouring over remains of boats, or venture into the glens where the waterfalls cascade and only the sheep roam.

I absorb what I see before I paint, get my boots dirty, draw breath where the only sounds are those of waterfalls cascading off the mountains. I walk in search of old farmhouses, cart wheels, lanes, stone walls. I have to get all this into my system, suck it in and enjoy the experience before I can paint. This is because I let my ideas flow onto the canvas. I don't think about what I am going to paint beforehand.

Dark thundery sky, sunlight pouring through from behind me, fantastic weather for taking pictures. If the hill on the left had been in total sunshine the picture wouldn't had nearly so much impact as it would clash too much with the grass. See the one below, bringing out the rocks high up above those houses and that moody sky. How can you not be inspired by such scenery?

Working on an oil painting On occasions I will go back to an oil I have done and rework it. Sometimes it works, other times it falls apart and I ended painting over it and starting again. Below is an example of an oil I have returned to 3 times. Its all about light. I need to feel the energy of the Irish valley, people living in that isolated farmhouse protected by the mountains from the impending storm. Title of oil: 'Shelter from the Storm' 30x20 inches
This first attempt hung over my fireplace for two months. I kept thinking it needed something more. The light was fine in the middle, but front and back were lacking somewhat	This second attempt added depth on a grand scale. I added the definite rock face in the distance and applied some red to the foreground, but the oil had lost some of its charm	This 3rd attempt forces the eye into the middle area, and brings green back into the scene. I shall leave it alone now, or paint over it and start again before it becomes a pretty scene

Come back to my studio, or paint out in the countryside, and let me encourage you as you work on developing a painting under my guidance. I will help you every step of the way as you bring out your ideas onto canvas, and shape them into your own work. Or perhaps you just want help in composing pictures with your camera. We are often told there is a right and a wrong way to paint, but in reality that is a load of nonesense. Too many people feel they cannot paint because they think they are doing it all wrong. When I started I was ever so careful, studying the scenes and trying to get it all exactly down on the canvas. Most of my oils these days take 30 minutes, I tear into the painting, energy pumping through my veins, curving the colours into one another. Other people prefer to take longer to enjoy painting, coming back the next day, or a few weeks to finish the painting. All I can do is show you my viewpoint, and help you build in confidence. Taking pictures is the same, you just need to compose what you have open in front of you provided by Mother Nature. Painting and photography is all about capturing that wonderful view you see. I love both fields of work.

2 Day Workshop

The cost for 1 person is €345 which includes three nights stay at Coulagh Bay House B&B near Eyeries Village overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Also included in the price is me driving you to and from the locations, a packed lunch for both of the days, and all tution fees. Please bring your own brushes and surface to paint on. There is no need to paint with oils if you would prefer to use another medium. Or bring your camera and I will show you how to use it, take it off that all too easy P mode.

1 Day Workshop

1 day workshop also available. No accomodation is arranged although I suggest Coulagh Bay House as it is close to Eyeries and has such fabulous views of the ocean and is very comfortable inside. (There are only two B&B in Eyeries now, the other being Foromanes House, also with great views of the ocean) We arrange to meet in the morning at a time best suited to yourself, and drive into the mountains or a location that best suits your desire. We can paint at that location, or you can take pictures and then come back to my studio to work on a painting under my guidance. The cost for one day includes all my driving, locations viewing, tution, painting and and slide show. Lunch will be at a local pub or cafe included in the fee of €125 per person

I will meet you after your arrival at the Coulagh Bay House B&B and we will get to know eachother, find out what you like and plan the workshop to your needs. I will give you a slide show on the Beara Peninsula to give you a feel of this wonderful place. The following morning I will pick you up from the B&B, then drive you to a suitable location where we will absorb the Beara atmosphere, like the stone walls, traditional houses, running water and sheep. You can paint at any of the locations I take you to or we can go back to my studio and paint there.

If you would prefer to stay at Foromanes or another B&B, please do

Or maybe you would like to do my Lighthouse Photography Workshop. To find out more please click here

If you would like to do a workshop with me simply decide when it would suit you, then please email me at:

I also conduct photo workshops, how to shoot landscape photography. I will show you how to use your camera to best get the detail in for landscape photography. We will go into Eyeries village and look at ways of best shooting for a postcard scene, what to look for, what to miss out and how to best achieve the result we want. The cost of the 1 day workshop is €125 includes slide show, transport and all tution. If you are in a group you might want to consider hiring a minibus as local transport here is minimal. Minibuses can be hired in Castletownbere but need to be arranged for in advance. I can take 3 in my car for no extra cost. Please contact me before booking to let me know which you would prefer to do, seascapes, landscapes or townscapes. We can combine, I just like to know in advance so I can plan things.

Let's work together to bring out your artistic talents