Hello and welcome to my website!
Hi, I'm Ciara and I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and discovered my love of art from an early age. I never stopped creating even during my time as an occupational therapist and complementary therapist.
Following the birth of my beautiful two children, a natural break in work inspired me to say goodbye to conventional employment and follow my dream of becoming a full-time artist. Self-taught, I found my groove in textile art for a while, then progressed to abstract expressionism which finally felt like home.
Today you will find me painting in my garden studio with paint-splattered hair and a mug of hot tea! I am humbled to say my art has found homes all around the globe.
I've had some lovely comments about my art. This description I feel sums up my artwork perfectly! ...
'Ciara applies paint in a variety of ever-changing brush strokes, from soft and blended to loose and expressionistic. Her soft swathes of colours blur and blend into one another, skimming a lightly textured surface, creating an image that transcends reality, and allows the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the subject matter.
A horizon line suggesting earth or land often bursts through a mist provoking mystical undertones.
Ciara's work is full of strong contrasts from darker colours, to subtle lighter hues.
This, together with a variety of mark-making, results in a contrast of moods which vary from calm and dreamy, to energetic and explosive.
Light plays an important role, often providing a focal point for the composition and creating a celestial hypnotic feel.
Rich, vibrant swathes of colour appear to nudge each other, moving slowly across the canvas like clouds; the resulting mood is soothing and joyful.
Fun Facts About Me...
💡I have been painting for over 30 years now (don't try to work out my age 🙈🤣)
💡I used to be a university lecturer in occupational therapy.
💡Before embracing abstract art, I created art by cutting up my kids' clothes and sewing them with a sewing machine.
💡I'm a very spiritual person and am an Integrated Energy Therapist and Reiki Master, Angel card reader and reflexologist!
💡I use my connection to divine light to infuse my paintings with healing energy, love and blessings.
💡I looooove animals and have fostered and rescued lots of little furbabies
💡I'm a sucker for mint & chocolate, mint twirl being my new favourite treat of choice!
💡I come from a creative gene pool - my great grandfather was a stone mason and my mum is a sculptor.
💡I love gardening, and the plants and flowers I grow are a direct inspiration for my paintings
💡I love teaching about art and business and get really excited when it's time to chat to the artists in my Accelerator programme every month!
💡I meditate everyday and use manifesting techniques to create abundance and happiness in my life.
💡I'm a workshop junkie. I have taken so many online courses in art 🎨, business💻 and spirituality 😇 I've lost count!
💡I was painfully shy as a child and really only got over it in my 20's but I'm definitely in the introverted category as an adult!
💡I was spiritually guided to start experimenting in abstract art even though I didn't even like it or rate it at the time! 🤯
Now look what's happened 😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏