About the Artist

A Reflection on the Work of Irish Artist, Colum McEvoy
by Marie McStay*

Colum was born and reared in the beautiful village of Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland, and for all his life has been a working artist.

From a very early age the impulse to create images on paper was a strong force. As a young boy he watched his father making artifacts from humble pieces of driftwood; he listened, as his calling to create grew stronger and stronger.

As the journey to maturity rolls along parallel tracks; there is the outer movement, which requires discipline and application, and there is the inner experience, which requires self-belief and trust. Colum speaks confidently about that inner experience which was nurtured by a strong familial commitment to integrity and creative expression.

Over the years, Colum’s work has been characterized by how he weaves light into the fabric of the piece. A watercolorist, he has offered us the precision often associated with photography and an intensity that comes from concentrated observation.

Collectors of and visitors to his work are drawn to the honesty expressed. Many are greatly moved by his portraits, which capture the spirit of his subjects and evoke a reality that is illuminated by the light in their eyes. His landscapes and studies are always speaking to us of a depth and soulfulness far beyond the obvious.

The work of Colum McEvoy explores the world we inhabit, but he brings the observer to a place of reflection on the deeper sense of being and he lets us look at familiar things in a new light.

* Marie McStay is a professional personal development coach, who collaborated with Colum on his recent three-dimensional audio and visual art installation “The Centre Cannot Hold”; which received warm critical acclaim when premiered at the Fiddlers Green - International Arts Festival, Rostrevor, Ireland, 2001. For further information on Marie, visit her website at www.mariemcstay.com.

Biography

Colum grew up in Rostrevor, County Down in Northern Ireland. Although he studied Textile Design in Belfast College of Art, 1973-1978, he is basically self-taught, specializing in watercolor and drawing. In 1979-80 he began his career, exhibiting work in Newry & Mourne, and Dublin, Ireland.

Colum has exhibited work in numerous galleries in Dublin including The Hackett Gallery and The Solomon Gallery, and also has had exhibitions in The Board Failte Headquarters of the Irish Tourist Board. His work is represented in many private and public collections throughout the world and can be found in private collections in England, the United States, Australia, Greece, Spain, South Africa and Singapore

In 1988, Colum completed a commission for Allied Irish Banks in New York. That same year he was chosen as one of eight artists by Guinness Diago plc; to exhibit his paintings as part of Guinness’s grand promotional tour of Germany.

Many of Colum’s commissions include portraiture, one client being singer/songwriter, Gilbert O’Sullivan. In 1995 he won ‘Artistic Achievement’ award at the Fiddlers Green International Music Festival, Rostrevor, Ireland.

In 1995 as a tribute to the world AIDS pandemic, a painting by Colum titled “Soaring” was the illustrative theme for the AIDS Walk, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. This was the first “original” artwork to be used for the commemorative T-Shirt for the Cleveland AIDS Walk. Thereafter, the organizers sought submissions from other artists to submit original illustrations for the annual memorabilia. A copy of “Soaring” and more information appears on this website under the “Soaring” tab. Prints and postcards are also available.

Young Artists - Lad Lane Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 1980 Oireachtas - Dublin, Ireland, 1980 Three Artists - Camdem Arts Centre, London, England, 1982 3+3 - Newry & Mourne Arts Centre, Ireland, April and December 1983-1990 Colum McEvoy/Ray Osborn - Hackett Gallery, Dublin, Ireland, 1983 3+3 - Octagon Gallery, Belfast, Ireland, June 1984 One Man Show - Hotel kilkenny, Kilkenny Arts Week, Ireland, August 1986 One Man Show - Artistic License Art Gallery, Carlingford, Ireland, April 1994 Arnotts Portrait Exhibition - Dublin, Ireland, October 1994 Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland, April 1995 Artistic License Gallery Exhibition - Ashbourne, Ireland, October 1995 Lavit Gallery - Cork, Ireland, July1997 Irish Contemporary Art Group Show - Sydney, Australia, November, 1997 Arnotts Portrait Exhibition – Dublin, Ireland, 1999 The Centre Cannot Hold, Installation, Fiddlers Green Festival, Rostrevor, Ireland, August 2001 Carol Graham/Colum McEvoy, Two Person Show, Fiddlers Green International Festival, Rostrevor, Ireland, 2002

Colum’s work also includes album and book cover design. In 2001, he was invited to illustrate a songbook entitled “Between the Earth and the Sky” by fellow artiste, Irish singer & songwriter, Colum Sands.

Colum currently resides in Ashbourne, Ireland, with his wife Deirdre and children Catherine and James.

His work is represented in the United States by Teresa Castro.