The Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally, Co Laois recently hosted an exhibition by Tipperary based artist Mary Dillon who specialises in botanical artwork. Officially opened on Friday 6th July at 4pm by Laois fashion designer Heidi Higgins.
Pictured at the Arthouse Gallery for the “At the Heart-Bontanical” exhibition launch were John King, Cathaoirleach Laois County Council, Mhuireann Ni Chonail, Laois Arts Officer, Heidi Higgins, Fashion Designer and Mary Dillon, Artist and course tutor. Picture Denis Byrne
The exhibition included work created by participants on a botanical painting course led by artist Mary Dillon at the Arthouse that ran from 2nd to the 6th July.
In the exhibition, At the Heart – Botanical, Mary Dillon takes up the challenge, breathing life, movement, heart and soul into her intricate plant portraits. Dillon is a contemporary artist who pushes the boundaries of botanical art in new and exciting ways.
Mary is an award winning botanical artist who exhibits her work internationally, most recently in Madrid where her work features on the cover of Tulipa Tulipae, a publication by Real Botanico Jardin, Madrid. Mary recently received the Anne Marie Carney Award and the Jean Emmons People’s Choice award at the ASBA (American Society of Botanical Artists) exhibition in San Francisco. She has been awarded Gold Medals and Best in Show in Botanical and Floral Art at Bloom, Dublin. Mary has recently joined the teaching team at the Chelsea School of Botanical Art in London. She finds teaching botanical art the perfect opportunity to bring together her three passions of painting, plants and working with people.
Botanical art challenges us to capture in a painting the essence of a plant, it’s beauty, frailty, strength and intimacy and to do so in a truthful way.