Northern Ireland Archive

Eddie Doherty graduated with an honours degree in Fine and Applied Art: Silversmithing and Jewellery from the University of Ulster in 2006. From his studio in Holywood, Eddie creates unique pieces of jewellery for both commission and exhibition. 

Colin McGookin is from Belfast, and is a noted Artist, Photographer, Workshop Facilitator, and Curator.

Kevin Killen studied at the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College and graduated in 1999, having specialised in 3D design and fine art. His work investigates unseen boundaries and captured movement, reflecting these interests through video animation, photographic drawing, and LED lighting.

Rachel Leary is a ceramic artist from Omagh. After graduating from the Belfast School of Art in 2014 with a Contemporary Applied Arts degree, she went on to complete a Master’s degree at the Cardiff School of Art & Design in 2015. Rachel has also completed a residency at the prestigious Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark.

Twin sisters Claire and Karen Gibson are ceramic artists from Belfast.  After graduating from the University of Ulster in 1998 with Masters Degrees in Fine and Applied Art, they went on form Red Earth Designs, a successful pottery and framing studio.

Kyle Barnes is an award winning artist from Cookstown. Graduating from the University of Ulster in 2010 with a BA Hons degree in Fine and Applied Arts, Kyle is known for his realistic portrait painting.

Michael Geddis is an emerging Northern Ireland artist, who specialises in drawing. Graduating from Belfast School of Art in 2013, Michael’s work won the James White Prize for Drawing at the RDS Annual Student Awards in Dublin.

Simon McWilliams studied painting at the Royal Academy Schools in London. He has received almost 30 awards for his paintings in the last 20 years including the Guinness Award at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, a Major Individual Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and Perpetual Gold and Silver Medals from the Royal Ulster Academy.

Ciarán Harper is a recent Fine Art graduate of Ulster University, Belfast, specialising in painting. He was awarded the prestigious Carson McDowell Solicitors Prize at the University of Ulster School of Art degree show in 2016.

Mary Theresa Keown is a contemporary artist originally from Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, now living and working in Dublin. Mary’s paintings are inspired by collages created with cut out images from a variety of sources, to create pictorial paintings that explore the relationship between the images themselves and their historical and cultural references.