“I entered Loreto Abbey Rathfarnham in 1963 just before my 19th birthday. I had been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. But there was no time to pursue this hobby in the first 20 years of my Religious life, having been moved frequently from one Loreto school to another, to teach music and RE. I was in my late thirties when I was transferred to Loreto Omagh (1981-1990). It was there that I first had the opportunity to attend art classes. My move to New Orleans (1990-1994), gave me more opportunities to paint and attend excellent painting classes.
It was in Belfast Metropolitan College that I met the most inspirational of my teachers, Clive Wilson (recently deceased). He pushed me beyond my comfort zone to a different way of painting: exploring one theme in depth from every angle, taking photos, observing, reading and drawing about the theme, interpreting it through the lens of my own experience, struggles, spirituality and imagination.
My Summer holidays, (especially in Achill); my walking among the trees in the Ormeau Park in all seasons, and along the tow path; my annual retreat in Loreto Linsfort beside the sea; my membership of a creative dance class in the Crescent Arts Centre for 20 years, all provided material for painting through the photos I took. I usually focussed on one theme for a whole year e.g. bogs, reflections, dance, trees, the ocean, rocks, skies, birds. Oil was and remains my painting medium.
I have organised painting exhibitions with members of my art class over the years. But this is the first time I have had an exhibition of my own (May 13th-15th 2023). Linking it with fundraising for St Vincent De Paul gave me the courage, energy and motivation I needed. No one was more surprised than myself when all 50 paintings were bought and £3500 raised for such a worthy cause. None of this would have been possible without the help and enthusiasm of the St. Vincent De Paul Conference in my Parish of St. Bernadette’s, Rosetta, Belfast.”
Anne Kilroy IBVM
View Sr. Annes other paintings here.
