Irish artist Martin Mooney on royal tours and finding inspiration in Donegal …
If visiting London, a fascinating exhibition for plein air painting enthusiasts is The King’s Tour Artists in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, a chance to see over 70 works of art from the royal collection.
Some of the paintings on display are by Belfast-born artist Martin Mooney, who studied at Brighton College of Art & Design and later completed his Master’s at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art. Art critics such as the late Brian Sewell and Sir Lawrence Goring acknowledged his ability to translate place and moment into art with precision and sensitivity. Mooney’s reputation was further cemented when he was awarded the Richard Ford Award from the Royal Academy and the George Campbell Memorial Grant.
View of Vilnius, Lithuania, 2001.
Mooney was officially invited by King Charles – in his capacity as Prince of Wales – to serve as the Official Tour Artist on two prestigious Royal Tours. “Being appointed to document these tours for His Majesty was one of the greatest honours of my career,” says Mooney. “The purpose of the Tour artist is to make a creative record of the Royal visit to that particular country. I was allowed to paint what I wanted and in whatever medium I decided to use.
For both Royal Tours, my choice of medium was oil paint on small panels painted on the spot. It was challenging, but enjoyable; generally, I had about 40 minutes to complete an oil sketch. I was used to working at this speed, having painted a lot on Tory Island and Aran Mor as a shower of rain seemed to come along every 45 minutes.”
Island Monastery, Russia, 2003.
During the 2001 Royal Tour of the Baltic States, Mooney created a series of plein air sketches and studio paintings that captured the historic streets of Tallinn and Riga. In the course of the 2003 Royal Tour of Russia, he chronicled the grandeur of St Petersburg with his signature blend of colour and atmosphere. “One of the most challenging subjects I painted was the facade of a Chinese Rococo palace outside Saint Petersburg. Trying to capture the essence of a very complicated architectural structure in 45 minutes was definitely a challenge.”
Donegal, Lough Swilly triptych.
Mooney is now based in Donegal, where he has his main studio. He also has a workspace and small studio in Hydra, Greece. His work often features dramatic cloudscapes and vivid tonal shifts. “My preference would be to work en plein air if possible, but depending on weather conditions sometimes I have to work from a small sketch and a combination of memory. I find working from life can be very spontaneous and much more interesting. Things can happen and really make the painting work.”
Still Life with Agapanthus.
Mooney is also renowned for his still life paintings of flowers, which can be seen in the current Art & Soul exhibition, curated by Gormley’s at Culloden Estate in Co Antrim. He explains: “The still life paintings of flowers are almost always painted from life. Sometimes, however, I go back to rework them after a period of time, but this is generally to add something, not dramatically change the entire composition.”
Ballynakill Lough Donegal.
“Donegal has been the greatest inspiration for my work, especially landscape paintings. I usually like to work on a series of paintings, in that way I can move around and think about them as I go along. I often like to leave a painting for a period of time, then look at it again and sometimes rework it.”
Summer Flowers – Pink and White Roses.
“Brian Sewell, the renowned and controversial art critic, was very much a mentor for me when I finished college and always advised me to not let a painting leave the studio until at least six months after it was finished. I think this is a very valid point and I try to apply it as best I can.”
Need to know: The King’s Tour Artists exhibition is at Buckingham Palace until September 28, which you can read about in the accompanying book: The Art of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King, Yale University Press, €35.
An extensive selection of Martin’s work is available at The Whitethorn Gallery in Clifden, Co Galway. @martinmooneyartist
