Fergus Ryan
Ireland
Fergus Ryan's is a representational painter whose principal influences have included 19C British and French landscape painters, and, especially, the 20C tempera painter Andrew Wyeth. Recent developments of subject and style followed a period in Norway at the home and studio of master painter Odd Nerdrum.
Fergus Ryan's work has been exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy's annual exhibition since 2008, and at The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts. He is currently represented by Sol Art in Dublin. His work has been acquired by the Government of Ireland and is in the State's collection at the Presidential residence. His subject matter now includes both landscape and figure in oils and in the revived medieval medium of egg tempera.
Before taking up painting full-time Fergus Ryan was an Aer Lingus pilot on long-haul routes (707s/747s) including North America, the Caribbean (Jamaica), West and North Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Libya), the Middle East (Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Pakistan), and Europe, from 1966 until 1994. This afforded not only opportunity for drawing, but access to a wide range of art institutions, museums and art literature resources, as well as opportunity to participate in art programmes overseas.
After early retirement Fergus Ryan graduated from Trinity College Dublin in theology and biblical studies, which added to an appreciation of the development of art, philosophy, and the ideas that contributed to the development of Western civilisation. The artist lives in north County Dublin and is married to Sarah, and has four adult daughters.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 16th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
