The Inspiration Behind 'Beyond the Horizon'

'Beyond the Horizon' began on a grey March morning on the west coast. The sea was the colour of slate, the sky barely separable from it — and then, for perhaps thirty seconds, a single break in the cloud lit a band of water the colour of pale jade.

I sketched fast. There was no time for colour mixing on site; I made notes and a pencil shape and held the image in my head on the long drive home.

In the studio the painting went through three full sessions before the light read correctly. The temptation was to overstate it — to make the bright band shout. The truer choice was restraint: a low-key sea, a quiet sky, and only then, the small jewel of light.

If you are looking for original Irish artwork for sale that holds its drama quietly, this is the kind of painting I most want to make. Enquire about availability — works at this scale move quickly.