Coronation Bench

I’ve been working on a big art project with Blythefield Primary School, Belfast. They are one of 15 schools from across the UK, and the only school in Northern Ireland, to win a competition run by Historic Royal Palaces to design their own illustrated Coronation bench, inspired by their hopes for the future during the reign of King Charles III.

Global public art producers Wild In Art commissioned me to bring Blythefield PS’s winning design to life by painting it on to a blank Coronation Bench sculpture.

Firstly I held a workshop at the school, to explore the children’s winning design with them and to give the children a chance to try out the techniques I would be using when painting their design onto the bench. Elements from their winning design, drawings from life done in the school garden, hand lettering and positive, fun drawings were combined on a 5ft square mural that the children helped me to paint.

Then I painted the Coronation Bench in my home work space before it was transported to Hillsborough Castle Gardens, where it will be on display until the end of the summer.

It has been a delight to work with the pupils and teachers at Blythefield Primary School and I was so happy to see on today’s news that, when visiting Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, King Charles and Queen Camilla got to meet the pupils and sit on their Coronation bench!

Summer Drawing Challenge

This summer I’m taking part in the They Draw and Cook ‘Summer Draw Along’. There are summer themed food prompts for the month of July, with illustrations posted on Instagram using the #theydrawandcook and the #summerdrawalong hashtags. Check out my illustrations on my Instagram feed at #sineadfarryillustration

Elmer is out and about!

Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail is now open. Download the Elmer Belfast app from your App Store or call in to Elmer HQ in Castlecourt shopping centre for a printed map. Here is the Elmer I decorated: Playtime Elmer, sponsored by Gateley PLC. Hope you like him!

Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail

I am delighted to be one of the 30 artists commissioned to paint an Elmer sculpture for this summer’s Elmer’s Big Belfast Trail. Between 20 June and 31 August 2022, the big painted elephants will be placed around the city centre, before travelling around Northern Ireland. Smaller elephants, decorated by schools and youth groups, will be grouped in herds in indoor locations. An Elmer Belfast app will be available, along with printed maps from Elmer HQ at Castlecourt. All to support and highlight the amazing work of NI Hospice! More information at www.elmerbelfast.co.uk

#elmerbelfast

Three paintings in exhibition

Three of my paintings of cows are on display at the Oriel Gallery, Antrim Castle Gardens, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, as part of the Ulster Society of Women Artists’ Spring Exhibition for diploma holders and award winners. I was delighted to be awarded a diploma at last year’s annual exhibition. These acrylic paintings are titled In the Field I, In the Field II and In the Field III. Exhibition open 10am to 4.30pm daily until 28 May 2022 and online at www.uswa.co.uk

Illustrated poetry

Recently I’ve been commissioned to work on a set of the wonderful poems of Robbie Roberts, using illustration to illuminate his beautiful, perceptive, very human and often humorous words. Have a look at Robbie’s website at www.robbie-roberts.com and his Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/robbierobertspoetry

The Association of Illustrators mentoring programme 2022

I’m delighted to have been accepted onto this programme and to have Willa Gebbie as my mentor. I’m learning so much about things like presenting my illustration portfolio, adjusting my work digitally and experimenting with ways of making marks. This is one of a series of illustrations aimed at editorial use.

Food illustration

Here is a recent illustration showcasing Dromona cheese, commissioned by Digital 24 and printed as a postcard. It was a pleasure to draw the beautiful food. Brush pen and watercolour on smooth watercolour paper.