Stephen Farnan
Stephen Farnan returned from New Zealand in October 2002 to set up his pottery studio in Northern Ireland. In the 1990’s Stephen studied at the Art College in Belfast and then at the Royal College of Art in London where he received his MA (RCA). Stephen makes domestic pottery; his pieces often have a twist in their making method or functionality but are immaculately crafted. He is represented by Margo Selby Gallery in London and Spacecraft in Belfast or you can view his online portfolio at www.stephenfarnan.com. Stephen, aside from making pots, teaches part time at the University of Ulster Belfast and writes on contemporary ceramic trends.
Alison Fitzgerald, Greenwood baskets
Alison Fitzgerald established Greenwood Baskets in Armagh over 20 years ago and is now recognized as one of the leading and authoritative figures on the stage of Irish Basket Weaving. Alison’s workshops are renowned and she often teaches on mainland Europe as well as in Ireland. Her baskets exist the world over and proved a particular hit at the recent Smithsonian Institute Festival in Washington DC where she was part of a group of selected craftspeople from Northern Ireland exhibiting at this prestigious event.
Susie Crooks
In early 2009 North Carolina born potter Susie Crooks became the latest artist to set up practice in Benburb’s Priory Cottages Art, Craft & Design Studios. Susie has been working with clay since the mid-nineties during which period she potted with indigenous Mixtec potters in Mexico. Susie’s pots are both hand built and thrown on the wheel, and since her move to Ireland, are reaching a defining moment in their development.
Geralyn Mulqueen
Geralyn Mulqueen is an Irish artist who moved to her Priory Cottages Art, Craft & Design Studios, Benburb, studio in January 2010. Geralyn trained and worked as a Barrister before motherhood. She is currently retraining in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Her interest in art as an expressive medium has been both therapeutic and passionate. Colour and light are inextricably woven together in her work to reflect innermost appreciation of her life journey to date as a woman, mother and artist. In reclaiming her creative voice through art and poetry she invites the viewer to embrace life!
Marc Kelly
Marc Kelly moved into his new studio at Priory Cottages, Art, Craft & Design Studios, Benburb, in Autumn 2010. At only 24 he is carving out a strong position in the world of Contemporary Irish Sculpture, recognised for his confident and masterful use of traditional sculpting methods he specializes in the fields of Stone masonry and Bronze casting.