Improve your painting skills at Dublin Plein Air Workshops
2025 Workshop Artists are : James Moore | Deirdre Shanny | Henry Mc Grane | Neil Greig URUA | Steve Browning | Kate Koss | Blaise Smith RHA | Paul D’Arcy
Masters of their art and our plein air artists will share their tips of the trade with you during the workshops.
Please Note – You must have already paid the Artist Registration or pay it now (75 euro) before joining any workshops.
Monday 16 June 10 am – Paul D’Arcy – Free Introduction to Plein Air – Skerries Red Island
Paul will discuss equipment and the best way to approach working out doors. The talk which is free to attend is aimed at those people who are new to painting outdoors (en plein air). Paul D’Arcy is a professional artist for the past 30 years and has been painting plein air since the 1980’s all over the world. Any registered artist may attend.
Monday 16 June – 11 am to 1 pm : James Moore Drawing workshop – Skerries Red Island
James loves drawing and painting on location. He has led drawing workshops at the Dublin Plein Air Festival, Féile na gCloch (Festival of Stone) on Inisheer in Galway Bay and Langenlois in Austria as well as creative workshops in Chapeco, Brazil.
James is one of the founders of Dublin Urban Sketchers who have met weekly for 16 years for on location drawing and painting in Dublin. James has a diploma from IADT Dun Laoghaire and a degree from Limerick School of Art and Design.
Tuesday 17 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Steve Browning Workshop – Malahide Town
Steve Browning studied at the Leicester School of Art and Design and has held workshops for the Dublin Plein Air Festival a number of times. Steve tends to work with smaller canvases in acrylic paint which allow him to paint on location to produce work that captures both the energy and spontaneity of a location.
He has exhibited in London, the Royal Hibernian Academy and his work can be found in collections in the UK, USA and Ireland.
Wednesday 18 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Henry Mc Grane Workshop – National Botanic Gardens
Inspired by nature as reflected by his many scenes of rural life, Henry McGrane captures the peace and tranquillity of the rich landscapes throughout Ireland and abroad. His work can be intensely personal yet versatile. His virtuosity is evident in several genres, including landscapes, still life, figurative and portraiture. But perhaps landscape best reflects both his love of nature and his outstanding painterly skills.
Thursday 19 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Deirdre Shanny Workshop – Balbriggan Martello Tower
Deirdre travels around Ireland and Europe painting en plein air and is a founder of Boyne Plein Air painting group. She has made Donegal her home over the last number of year. She moved there to be closer to the wonderful landscapes on the edge of the Atlantic ocean where the weather and light are constantly changing. She has taught for many years and enjoys the interaction with her students.
Friday 20 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Kate Kos Watercolour Workshop – Ardgillan Castle
Kate is a wonderful watercolour artist and plein air painting is an important part of her process, indeed a necessary addition to her visual development. As an artist she has won many plein air awards and her watercolours are renowned for there ‘light and airy feel’ and the purity of her colours when painting the landscape. For artists interested in painting landscapes in watercolours Kate’s workshop will be inspiring.
Saturday 21 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Neal Greig URUA Workshop – Farmleigh House
Neal loves to be in the elements painting outdoors to absorb the energy of nature. His work closely observes landscapes and maintains a spontaneous, energised engagement with the atmospherics of each location. Be it the turbulent waters along the Northwest coastline or the rivers and lakes of Fermanagh and Monaghan. Neal’s work is in many important collections in Ireland and abroad and is a member of the Ulster Royal Academy.
Sunday 22 June – 10 am to 1 pm : Blaise Smith RHA Workshop – Donabate Strand
Blaise Smith R.H.A. is one of Ireland’s leading painters and teaches advanced oil painting techniques, drawing and composition at the RHA Drawing School.
He is a well known artist in the Irish visual art scene in Ireland today. He has had numerous solo shows and his work is held in many Public and Private Collections.
Sunday 23 June – 2 to 4 pm : Quick Paint Competition for Charity – Ardgillan Castle
Ireland has the highest incidence of Cystic Fibrosis in the world – approximately 1 in 19 Irish people are said to ‘carry’ one copy of the altered gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis.
Click here to donate Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.
Please Note – You must have already paid the Artist Registration or pay it now before you can join any workshops etc.
Always a fun event at the end of festival week in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and a great way for artists to support people with CF.