A word from Micheal O' Fearghail:

I am a self taught representational watercolour landscape artist, based in Stoneyford, Co.Kilkenny. A representational artist paints life as it is, more or less, and my work is inspired by places in Ireland and abroad, scenes that are associated with good memories and happy times. I especially like to paint marine subjects, the coast, rivers and lakes, indeed anything with water in it (even mill-wheels).

For this exhibition I have chosen a selection of works that represent the rivers, lakes and the sea, that have been so much a part of my life.

The title of the exhibition, taken from a Waterboy's song, draws out the differences between these different marine environments. We are never too far from a stream or river, whose bubbling wandering intrigues everyone. Lakes are placid, sometimes wild. The sea - this is a different kettle of fish. The sea is unforgiving and needs to be respected. You may paddle out on a lake without a care, but to go to sea unprepared, is to court disaster!

Mike Scott's song is not so much about the sea itself, but about life. Just as the river flows to the sea, so life flows on. People sometimes paddle along through life and eventually end up at sea, unprepared. The song warns us - 'that was the river - THIS is the sea'.

Water is the source of all life. Every drop of rain starts in the sea, waters the land and provides life, joins a river and flows back to the sea. It is small wonder that artists and writers have always used it as subject matter, and as an analogy for life.

I hope you like my watercolour paintings. I believe that watercolour captures the true nature of water better than other mediums.