Following the success of its inaugural artist-in-residency programme, Ballyfin Demesne has announced details of its 2025 Autumn-Winter programme.
The residency will welcome a curated selection of accomplished artists to stay and work at Ballyfin Demesne, further enriching the estate’s artistic and cultural credentials.
The programme is developed in collaboration with two distinguished galleries – Oliver Sears Gallery in Dublin and John Martin Gallery in London.
Celebrated as one of Ireland’s most exceptional five-star experiences, Ballyfin Demesne is set within 614 acres of rolling parkland, formal gardens, and heritage architecture, which will provide a truly inspirational environment for artistic exploration.
Guests will enjoy a rare opportunity to witness the creative process first-hand, with the chance to observe each artist at work and engage in informal conversations throughout their stay.
2024 was quite a year for Ballyfin Demesne, with the Laois hotel awarded Three Michelin Keys, named the Number One Resort Hotel in Ireland and UK and named Best Hotel in Ireland and UK.
Earlier this year the hotel finally captured its first Michelin Star.
The Autumn/Winter 2025 residencies will feature the following five distinguished artists:
Francis Hamel – August 17 – 19
Born in 1963 and trained at The Ruskin School, Oxford, Francis Hamel has lived and worked since 1997 in a studio beside the renowned William Kent gardens at Rousham, Oxfordshire.
The gardens and surrounding parkland have been a constant source of inspiration, reflected not only in his depictions of the landscape and monumental tree portraits, but also in his exploration of the deep connections between gardens and the wider landscape in which they exist.
Martin Finnin – September 7 – 10
Born in Limerick in 1968, Martin Finnin studied at Limerick School of Art and at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin before moving to London.
There, he worked on building sites while dedicating his spare time to drawing and studying at the National Gallery, where he developed a fascination with early Renaissance painting.
Donald Teskey – October 5 – 9
Also born in Limerick, Donald Teskey graduated from Limerick College of Art and Design with a Diploma in Fine Art in 1978.
Since 1992, he has built a substantial body of work as a painter of land and seascapes, with the rugged beauty of Ireland’s western seaboard a central focus in recent years.
Hughie O’Donoghue – November 14 – 16
Born in Manchester in 1953 to an Irish mother, Hughie O’Donoghue spent much of his childhood in County Mayo.
The stark landscapes and the enduring legacy of the Great Famine have profoundly influenced his work.
Sasha Sykes – December 1 – 4
Working between Dublin and Carlow, Sasha Sykes has a background in architecture and is renowned for her distinctive artworks and furniture pieces.
Her work has been exhibited extensively in Ireland and abroad and is represented in many notable private and public collections.
