Anseo is Ansiúd

Anseo is Ansiúd

Dee Shanny & Seamus Gallagher

Dee Shanny

Is ealaíontóir plein air í Dee Shanny atá lonnaithe i nDún na nGall. Tá an tírdhreach atá ag athrú le feiceáil ina saothar, an solas atá ag athrú i gcónaí agus an tír-raon uathúil atá ag an iarthuaisceart. Ag obair den chuid is mó le holaí, péinteálann sí go díreach ón ábhar os a comhair, le buillí scaoilte den scuab a chuireann in iúl a sceitimíní sa nóiméad sin — rud a roinneann sí linn ansin ina saothair chríochnaithe.

Is abhcóide paiseanta í Dee don phéintéireacht plein air agus tá an oiread sin ealaíontóirí buíoch di as a tiomantas do chomhordú Ghrúpa Plein Air Dhún na nGall. Léirítear a paisean sna ceardlanna agus ranganna teagaisc a chuireann sí ar fáil, rud a chothaíonn muinín agus saoirse chruthaitheach i measc cleachtóirí eile.

Tá a nasc leis an áit le brath go soiléir ina cuid oibre ar fad.

“Tá mé ag fiosrú caoráin agus bithéagsúlachta faoi láthair, rud atá tar éis sraith úrnua d’fheisiceamhluithe a oscailt dom. Dom féin, bíonn an comhrá fisiciúil idir an solas agus an talamh ar siúl i gcónaí. Treoraíonn mo staidéir plein air mo chleachtas sa stiúideo agus spreagann siad mo phaisean chun an t-aer, an t-atmaisféar agus gach rud eatarthu a phéinteáil. Tá mo phailléad mionchoigeartaithe agus iomasach do thírdhreach uathúil Dhún na nGall, dath an fhraoich, teas an chaoráin, ballaí cloiche faoi chaonach, agus gormanna comhchuí ar fud na móinte, na farraige agus na sléibhte — pailléad nach bhféadfadh a bheith in áit ar bith eile ach i nDún na nGall. Análann an phailléad seo an t-aer céanna le mo thimpeallacht, agus sin é an fáth go bhfuil an t-ádh orm gur féidir liom Baile a thabhairt ar an áit seo”.

Guíonn An Gailearaí gach rath uirthi ina cleachtas agus go mairfidh an fuinneamh cumhachtach sin a chuireann sí i dtacaíocht agus i spreagadh ealaíontóirí eile.

Seamus Gallagher

Rugadh Seamus Gallagher i nDoire agus rinne sé staidéar ar an mhínealaín i Scoil Ealaíne Wimbledon, agus níos déanaí chríochnaigh sé staidéir iarchéime i gColáiste Goldsmiths, Londain. Mhúin Seamus Ealaín & Dearadh ar feadh 25 bliain, 16 díobh mar Cheann Roinne Ealaíne i Meánscoil Naomh Peadar, Doire. Tá Seamus ina chónaí i nDún na nGall le 30 bliain anuas agus tá sé ag péinteáil go lánaimseartha.

Díríonn a shaothar ar thírdhreacha garbha agus fileata Chontae Dhún na nGall — radharcanna farraige, dumhcha, sléibhte, caoráin agus cladaigh — nach múnlaítear le mionsonraí ach lena chuimhní, a iomas agus an mothúchán a mhúsclaíonn an áit ann – ceangal leis an áit. Is minic a chuireann sé síos ar a phróiseas cruthaithe mar chomhrá leis an chanbhás, áit a dtreoraíonn dath agus péint forbairt an atmaisféir agus an ghiúmar.

Go luath ina ghairm ealaíne, thaispeáin Seamus a shaothar in ionaid mhóra le rá ar nós an Royal Academy, Londain, an ICA, Londain, agus an Whitworth Gallery i Manchain. Le tamall anuas, ghlac sé páirt i líon mór taispeántas grúpa ar fud réigiún an Iarthuaiscirt, lena n-áirítear Gailearaí Glebe, Gailearaí Gordon, Músaem Muirí agus Ionad Ealaíne an Fheabhail. Bhí ceithre thaispeántas aonair aige freisin, an ceann is déanaí san Ionad Cultúrtha Réigiúnach, Leitir Ceanainn, i Márta 2024. Is ball é Seamus de Líonra Ealaíontóirí Amharclainne Dhún na nGall agus ghlac sé páirt i seónna bliantúla Fhort Dún Ri 2023, 2024 agus 2025. Arís, guíonn An Gailearaí gach rath ar Sheamus ina chleachtas.

Here and There

Dee Shanny & Seamus Gallagher

Dee Shanny

Dee shanny is a plein air artist based in Donegal. Her work captures the changing landscape, the ever-shifting light and the unique terrain of the northwest landscapes. Working primarily in oils, she paints directly from the motif in front of her, with loose expressive brushstrokes, that capture her excitement of that moment – that she then shares with us in her finished works.

Dee is a passionate advocate for plein air painting and so many artists are grateful to her for her commitment to coordinating the Donegal Plein Air Group. Her passion is demonstrated in the many workshops and tutorials she delivers thereby encouraging confidence, freedom in other practitioners.

Her connection to ‘place’ is obvious throughout her work.

“I am presently exploring bogs and biodiversity, which has opened up a whole new series for my explorations. For me the physical dialogue between the light and the land is forever on going. My plein air studies inform my studio practice and drive my passion to paint the air, atmosphere and everything in between. My palette is finely tuned and intuitive to Donegal s unique landscape, the blush of Heather, the warmth of bog, mossy rock walls, harmonious mercurial blues across moors seas and mountains, with a palette that could belong nowhere else but Donegal. This palette breathes the same air as my surroundings and that is why I am so lucky enough to call it home”.

An Gailearaí wishes her every success in her practice as well as maintain the ‘powerhouse’ energy she puts into supporting and encouraging other artists.

Seamus Gallagher

Seamus Gallagher was born in Derry and studied fine art at Wimbledon School of Art and later completed postgraduate studies at Goldsmiths College, London. Seamus has taught Art & Design for 25 years, 16 of those as Head of Art at St Peter’s High School Derry. Seamus has lived in Donegal for the past 30 years and continues to paint full time.

His work centres on the rugged and poetic landscapes of County Donegal; seascapes, dunes, mountain bog and shorelines, that are shaped not by detail but by his memory, his intuition and emotional resonance – a ‘sense’ of place. He often describes his creative process as a conversation with the canvas, where colour and paint guide the development of atmosphere and mood.

Early in his career Seamus exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Royal Academy London, ICA London, and the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester. Of late he has participated in numerous group shows across the Northwest region including the Glebe Gallery, the Gordon Gallery, the Maritime Museum and the Foyle Arts Centre, has held four solo exhibitions, the most recent at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, in March 2024. Seamus is a member of the Donegal Visual Artist Network and has participated in the Fort Dunree annual shows 2023, 2024, and 2025. Again, An Gailearaí wishes Seamus every success with his practice.