Deirdre Byrne, 'Plume'

My current series of drawings on paper and wood combine research into landscape and a sense of place, with a keen interest in experimenting with materials and colour. The mixed media drawings depict scenes from Doñana National Park’s edge-lands and other sites from the South of Spain, perhaps offering ordinary alternatives to the more popular tourist areas. I portray these places, not as a landmarks in their prime, but as intriguing views that might be encountered at random. I use sketches, photographs, and satellite imagery as source material for my work, presenting singular objects like stork nests, cacti, a plume of smoke from a forest fire, and abandoned structures. My work also features aerial views and landscapes affected by extreme weather conditions such as sandstorms and drought in this increasingly warm, dry place. Moving through and making work in this landscape has allowed me to draw meaning from and feel attached to this environment.

Deirdre Byrne divides her time between Wexford and Seville. She holds a BA in Fine Art, Painting, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Visual Art Education from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. Her works have been exhibited internationally. Her latest solo exhibition, ́The Long Way Round`, took place in May at Custom House Studios and Gallery in Westport, Ireland.