Artist of the Month, November 2026 - Connor Maguire

Connor Maguire was born in Belfast and studied at the University of Ulster. He works as a freelance artist, specialising in painting from watercolours to oils, printmaking in the form of woodcuts and linocuts, and drawing in charcoal and graphite. Connor’s grandfather was an accomplished draughtsman and his own interest in art evolved at an early age, watching his grandfather sketch and draw. Connor’s own art is inspired by anything ranging from everyday events, personal experiences, friends or family or just an idea of what something is.

‘Man in a Hat’ is part of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Art Collection. The painting was primarily created using the ‘Zorn’ palette, a famous four-colour painting system inspired by the Swedish artist Anders Zorn. A fifth colour, Ultramarine Blue, was used to match the colour of the hat only. The artist chose a side profile due to the challenge in capturing the likeness and character, and the hat was deliberately chosen to cast a shadow, creating a contrast between shadow and light. The work was originally exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin, 2019.

Futher information about Connor and his work can be found at www.connormaguire.com