Mary McGrath

Mary trained originally as an Art Conservator at the Courtauld Institute, London University and at the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University. She has worked in England, France, Italy and the United States. In Ireland Mary has worked for the Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Hugh Lane Gallery and the National Gallery of Ireland and for many other institutional and private clients. She worked for two Summers as Consultant on a gilding project at the Getty Museum in Malibu. For many years Mary lectured to Art History Students in Trinity College Dublin on the history of Materials and Techniques of Painting. She was the Project Manager for the Francis Bacon Studio move from London to the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin.

“In 2017 I joined the Leinster Print Studio and since then have exhibited prints at venues throughout Ireland and in Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Canada and England.

I paint and draw portraits and landscapes and take on commissions for both in oils, charcoal and watercolours.

Since beginning to create my own art I have concentrated on my personal interest in biodiversity: the variety and variability of life on Earth, especially the richness of our native animals and birds which have survived despite intensive farming, habitat destruction and the demands of industry for greater financial rewards. I love the countryside and I paint what I see and know. Spending time on my smallholding during this year of Covid 19 reminded me of what has disappeared. No hares or skylarks. No bees or ladybirds. The curlew has long since gone.

But still there is always hope. My work invites you to be aware of your surroundings. To give Nature a chance to recover. To appreciate the survivors in our ecosystem and to realise that we can all make a difference”.

Mary McGrath