| Background of the artist |
| Nuala Holloway is an artist who specialises mainly in oils, acrylics, pastel and watercolours. She has exhibited around the country and has commisions in America, Britain and Italy. She has been resident at the world renowned Cill Rialaig Artists Retreat in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry. Some of her work is currently on exhibit in The Waldock Gallery in Blackrock, Co. Dublin and at The Oratory Gallery in Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry. Born in Moate, Co. Westmeath, Ireland, Nuala studied at the Crawford College of Art, Cork. Studies were abandoned when encouraged to become a model and was chosen to represent Ireland at the Miss International Beauty Pageant, Okinawa, Japan. Became a well known photographic and fashion model in the late 70s and 80s. Trained as an actress and worked mostly on T.V. Dramas, Film and T.V. Commercials. After raising a family, her interest in painting was rekindled in the mid 1990s. She studied under Kay Doyle A.N.C.A., President of the Watercolour Society of Ireland. In November 1997, her painting "Coming Out of the wood - Seve Ballesteros" was chosen from 300 entries for the Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown Open Exhibition of 30 Artists. In April 1998, two paintings were chosen for the Dun Laoghaire exhibition - "Asgard II" and "Dun Laoghaire Harbour". This work was singled out for special mention by Peter Murray, Administrator of the Crawford Gallery, Cork. His comment was "An Artist of exceptional talent". Since then she has completed a number of commissions and her work is now in private collections in Ireland, Wales, Wisconsin and New York. She is also a fluent Irish speaker. She has a B.A. Honours Degree in Modern and Medieval Irish, History of Art, Italian and English from University College Dublin. Nuala also has a Higher Diploma in Education and post graduate certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. In August 2006, Nuala exhibited a selection of her artwork alongside the poetry of Mullingar based historian and writer, Leo Daly in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Nuala's first solo exhibition, "Inspirations", took place at Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, Co. Westmeath in September 2006. It was opened by artist, writer and TV presenter Don Conroy and Moate's local historian, Vera Hughes. This was followed by an invitation to exhibit her work in Arklow, Co. Wicklow during the summer of 2007. In December, 2007, "Reflections", Nuala's first solo Dublin exhibition took place at Airfield House, Dundrum and was opened by Senator Eoghan Harris. Senator Harris referred to Nuala as "the Niglella Lawson of Irish art" drawing reference on the force and energy in her work. He also highlighted the nostalgia in some of her work which represents "a world which is about to slip away" and he noted her ability to draw which he finds very important in an artist. |
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