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Mr Morris's wonderful wallpaper

Today, I’m starting to edition the first print I’ve made this year.

Mr M's wonderful wallpaper

P.S. from the Tyrone Guthrie Centre

After an absolutely fabulous time here at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, where I did over a months drawing in a week, I am so annoyed with myself that I never had the courage to come here until now. What a wonderful experience!

Tyrone Guthrie Centre residency

I know, I know, I haven’t written for ages! I’ve been so busy trying to get some work finished for different exhibitions and submissions, I haven’t had a moment to even think about a blog.
But, I arrived in heaven to spend a week. As I drove north towards Monaghan with the car packed to explosion point with art materials, I went “Whew!”

I was travelling to the Tyrone Guthrie Centre for a week’s residency. I have long thought about coming here, but never had the courage to apply. Last year I decided it was now or never, sent off my application, and was accepted.

Reviewing a great year

The period after Christmas and before the new year is the perfect time to take stock of the past months. It’s a quiet time, and here in Radicondoli, it’s a time when the countryside sleeps. Now there is a very different beauty: the fields' patterns are more visible; the ghost-like trees reveal their now bare skeletons; and also their secrets, long hidden birds nests.

It has been a whirlwind of a year and I was extremely fortunate in many ways. It started with hearing that I had got an honorable mention at the New York Miniature Print Exhibition, followed by a piece accepted by the R.H.A. In May on our journey to Italy via Rosslare, Rosscoff and various towns, I got an email to say “Mr Turner’s grand design” had made the cut for London’s Royal Academy. Well things could hardly get better, but they did. In October I got two prints into the R.U.A. I had finally achieved the Royal Academy hat trick!

Kilcock Arts Gallery

Saturday was D-Day for the opening of the Dreamscapes and Landscapes Exhibition at the Kilcock Art Gallery. I had made my usual mistakes; having an early night, soaking in a bath, and sleeping facedown; the result? Actually hardly sleeping a wink, and a face belonging one of those wrinkly Chinese dogs. No amount of cold water or fancy cream could rectify the problem.