“The final show in the Royal College of Surgeons was a very tantalising and exciting prospect for this artist, my first public display in Dublin since the Brent Pope era circa 2015-16. In a prestigious space at the RCSI, anything can happen!.

— Alan Tarpey, Connecting Artists 2022 Participant.

I love painting familiar people and the buildings they inhabit, using pen, ink, and watersoluble pastel on acrylic paper to bring out the colour of the subjects. A scene in real life is further enhanced by my stroke.

I started with my own native Roscommon and proceeded to illustrate every enjoyable spot I encountered along my daily path, be it cycling, walking or visiting town or city by bus.

I embed the humorous aspects of life where relevant and social commentary is provided in the form of signs and billboards in windows, on walls and on the ground within the subject chosen.

My repertoire has expanded to Galway, Athlone, other parts of the country and abroad. Animals such as lambs are a main feature in smaller size pieces. I also leave room in my oeuvre for fictional subjects as well, from TV shows to video games.

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Alan’s Artist Spotlight Video

Take a look at Alan’s Artist Spotlight video to hear, first hand, what makes Alan’s art work so unique and a little bit about his experience in the Connecting Artists 2022 programme