Born in 1961, Donagh Carey is a native of West Cork, and grew up in Drimoleague. He moved to Dublin in 1979 and became well known as a graphic designer and art director in the advertising agency field. He went from bust to top selling artist having discovered Sherkin Island where he got his BA Hons after the four year degree course. He focused on Skellig Michael for a groundbreaking exhibition which was shown outdoors in the Abbey in Ballinskelligs during Cill Rialaigs 21st Anniversary Celebrations.
He had been much inspired by Robben Island in South Africa where he says unlike Skelligs, the stones were put one upon the other as punishment where as at Skellig, the monks placed each stone upon the other with devotion.
In the past, Donaghs artistic styles have incorporated photo realism through to abstract. There is, regardless of the style, an underlying theme in which he retraces the paths of his childhood, recording derelict farmhouses, villages and dramatic seascapes. In the forthcoming exhibition we see the themes emerge again – with Donagh exploring Skellig Micheal (soon to be seen in an episode of STAR WARS).
Donagh has shown at Cill Rialaig and it’s Urban Retreat Gallery and has taken part in numerous group shows in his homeland. He has a permanent exhibition of landscapes in the Blackrock Clinic and is represented in the OPW collection.
This powerful body of work inspired by Skellig and Cill Rialaig at Origin is a potent journal of his boat trips in and around Ballinskelligs.
The Origin Gallery 