Conor Walton was born in Dublin in 1970, and studied in the National College of Art and Design, from which he graduated in 1993 with a Joint Honours Degree in the History of Art and Fine Art (Painting). He received a special commendation and prize for his thesis, 'Abstraction: A Discourse on Language and Painting'.

After reading for an MA in Art History and Theory at the University of Essex, which he was awarded with distinction in 1995 (dissertation subject: 'The Battle of the Ancients and the Moderns'), he spent some time in Florence studying painting and old master techniques with Charles Cecil. He returned to Dublin in 1996, and had his first solo exhibition there in 1999.

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Chara Nagle started painting at a young age and decided very early on that art was her life and passion. She was fascinated by observing people and portraying their everyday activities in her art.

Chara's paintings are big, bold, dramatic observations of everyday life. However there is also an element of intrigue and humour to Chara's paintings. She invites the viewer to come to their own conclusions as to what is happening in the painting. Chara engages the viewer further through her use of vibrant colours and realistic portrail of her subject matter.

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Francis Kennedy works from a small studio at his home in Athenry, in the west of Ireland. "I own paint brushes and I use them".

He has a great love of music, having played in a number of bands in a former life and much of his work revolves around musicians and recitals.

Francis' art hangs on the walls of some famous names, like Sharon Corr, Brendan Shine, and the soprano Deirdre Shannon-Gilsenan, as well as in the offices of Coffey Construction and Galway Bay FM.

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Therese Mc Allister is an Irish artist who studied at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin from 1972-74. After NCAD, Therese worked as a fashion illustrator, and display artist in Dublin before deciding to move to Italy in the mid 1970's.

On her arrival in Florence, she met Pietro Annigoni (renowned for his portraits of the British Royal Family) who encouraged her to enroll at the Studio Simi. Here, under the tutelage of Nerina Simi, she studied the techniques of drawing and painting in the classical tradition.

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RUA Conor Prize winner in 2002, Gary Devon was elected an associate member of RUA in 2006.

Born in Bangor in 1958, Gary has been painting professionally for twenty-five years, following his degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, London. As well as his personal work he has taken on various commissions including a painting of Kensington Palace for HRH The Prince of Wales and others for Dianna Rigg and Peter Alliss.

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