Home News In Pictures: At The Heart – Botanical Exhibiton launches in Stradbally

In Pictures: At The Heart – Botanical Exhibiton launches in Stradbally

Enjoying the exhibition launch of "At the Heart-Botanical" were Mary O'Brien and Geraldine Walton. Picture Denis Byrne

The Laois Arthouse Gallery, Stradbally, Co Laois welcomes an exhibition by professional artist Mary Dillon who specialises in botanical artwork.

The exhibition “At the Heart – Botanical” officially opened on Friday July 6. Local fashion designer Heidi Higgins officially launched the exhibition.

The exhibition will also include work created by participants on a botanical painting course led by artist Mary Dillon at the Arthouse which 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.

The course offers a wonderful opportunity to the 10 artists participating, many who are travelling from different parts of the country and even from the States to take part.

We look forward to seeing the inspired work from the course attendees as well as Marys’ own work.

Visit the Arthouse to view the wonderful work as it will be here until the 25th July.

Opening times: Tues and Thurs 1pm-5.00pm & 5.30pm-8pm, Sat: 10am-1pm (Except on Bank Holidays) entry through library to front of the building, Wed and Fri 1pm-4pm (entry through the Laois Arthouse) For more details contact T: 057 8664033/13 E: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie

Pat Fitzpatrick, Ray Murphy and Arthur Broomfield at the Arthouse Gallery on friday. Picture Denis Byrne
Mhuireann Ni Chonail Laois Arts Officer speaking at the Exhibition Launch of “At the Heart-Botanical” consisting of work created by participants from the bontanical painting course led by Artist Mary Dillon held in the Arthouse Gallery Stradbally Picture Denis Byrne
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
Artist and course tutor Mary Dillon with her work for the “At the Heart- Botanical” exhibition launch held in the Arthouse Gallery Stradbally. Picture Denis Byrne
Mirian Murphy and Bernie Hennessy
Dylan and Yumi Broomfield and Eriko Yano. Picture Denis Byrne
Enjoying the exhibition launch of “At the Heart-Botanical” were Mary O’Brien and Geraldine Walton. Picture Denis Byrne
Christy and Dorrie Moran. Photo Denis Byrne
Pictured are John King, Cathaoirleach Laois County Council presenting a bouquet of flowers to Heidi Higgins, Fashion Designer who officially opened the “At the Heath Bontanical” Exhibition in the Arthouse Gallery Stradbally on Friday. Picture Denis Byrne

SEE ALSO – Exciting exhibition planned for Laois Arthouse Stradbally