From rolling hills, meandering roads, namibian landscapes, bicycling masai warriors and Tibetan children, to a proud dad lovingly holding his son, Deirdre's paintings transport you to the places that inspired her unforgettable paintings.
Here we get to look at it all began for Deirdre.
ET: When did you become aware that you might paint for a living?
Deirde Dunne (DD): From the age of about fifteen I decided I would like to go to Art College. I began exhibiting some pieces in group shows from the age of eighteen and as some of them sold; I always had the idea that it was possible to make a living from painting. But after I finished my four years in Art College I went off travelling for five years and worked at various odd jobs non art related. When I arrived back in Ireland I started a six-month sign writing course which luckily for me had a lot of pictorial work involved which led me back to enjoying painting. I then began painting from all our travel photos and began exhibiting again.
ET: Why is it important for you to paint?
DD: I enjoy it a lot and find it comes very naturally to me. I realise now that it's a great talent to have and not everyone is lucky enough to have such a gift so it would be a shame not to use it.
ET: Are you a spiritual person?
DD: Not particularly, but that could change.
ET: You won the "Moyclare Stud Stakes" art competition and the Aer Rianta "Student Of The Year Degree Show." Can you tell us something more about these awards?
DD: The Moyclare Stud Stakes award was an art competition where the artist did a painting of the winning horse and jockey of that particular race every year. It was open to amateur artists of all ages. I was sixteen at the time and had never painted a horse before but with encouragement from my mother I decided to enter anyway and received one thousand pounds as first prize. The Aer Rianta award is won by being chosen from all the degree shows that year in Ireland and gives the artist the chance to exhibit approximately ten pieces in the departure lounge at Dublin airport.
ET: If someone who could not see your paintings asked you to describe them, how would you describe them?
DD: Realistic but with a semi surrealist light. Similar to wearing very strong sun glasses which bring out the shadows and the different contrast more vividly.
ET: What is your opinion of modern art?
DD: I see all art as being equally important. When I visit a gallery I'm drawn to the painting section mostly and especially any style similar to mine, mostly to learn from it or to compare styles, but sometimes an abstract piece will capture my imagination due to the colours and shapes. Sometimes a piece of art will leave me blank or confused about what it's about, but I think art is in the eye of the beholder. The old masters I enjoy are Van Gogh, Vermeer, The Pre-Raphaelites and many more.
ET: What in your life gave you the confidence to travel as you did? Did you travel alone?
DD: My first trip was to India after working in Holland for a year to save money. I went with a few friends and my sister. We were all very young and naive but after a few weeks I began to really enjoy it. The culture shock was huge but you adjust to it very quickly. I've never minded roughing it, so the lack of facilities never bothered me. After that trip I travelled to Australia alone and had planed to visit Asia on my way home after the year was up, but towards the end of the trip I met Bryce, an Australian, who was also keen on visiting Asia so we went together and ended up there for two years. So I only got back to Ireland after three years instead of one. We got married since and I have done the rest of my travels with him. I find that all the travelling has had the most influence on my art so I don't see myself stopping it and settling down.
ET: Who or what has been inspirational in your life?
DD: I suppose Bryce, my husband. He has no fear about trying new things which has made me likewise to a certain
extent. My cousin, Mark O'Neil, a well known Irish artist. He has helped me a lot with my portfolio for Art College and seeing how well he is doing now with his art has inspired me to keep going. My mother, as she is a very optimistic person. Nothing is impossible in her mind. A little of that may have rubbed off. And last but not least, all my travels.
ET: You have achieved a lot so far in your young life. Do you have another grand plan? What's next after your exhibition at the Lee Gallery?
DD: We have many "grand plans" but don't mind changing them either. At the moment we have a double Decker Bus cafe which we bought in London last October. We have done a lot of work on it over the winter and are now going to some of the music festivals in Ireland selling food. So I'll be a chef for the next two months. Once the exhibition is over we are driving the bus to Spain for the winter and will go off cycling to Morocco and Spain while we are there. I hope to do lots of painting while living on the bus there and come back in April to have another exhibition. I would love to have an exhibition of work which consists of about ten to fifteen pieces, all about five to six feet in size. Each one would be from a different place in the world, similar to the picture of the "Indian Sadu" in the latest painting section of the website. That one is sized at about five feet.
Deirdre will be exhibiting her work in the Lee Gallery in Cork city between September 19th and 29th. She is also available to paint a unique piece from a photo or idea of your choice.
Address: Deirdre Dunne, Quarry Mount, Killeigh, Co Offally, Republic of Ireland
Contact: Tel. 00 353 (0) 857844305 ddeirdredunne@yahoo.com www.doubledecker.ie
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