Artist Statement
I've lived in Scotland for over 20 years, have three Scottish daughters, It feels good to divide my time between Ireland and Scotland now, and I teach a lot across the water..
The creative conversations that arise in teaching and demonstrating are inspiring.
In my life I have gravitated towards those things that make me feel alive. A dip in the sea, a walk in the woods, dancing, singing, playing - and really anything that involves 'great craic'. One activity has kept calling me again and again - this process of drawing and painting. This pure and particular way of entering into, almost being enfolded in, the beauty of things. Whether it's a view or a face or a flower, feeling it so fully that it Has to be 'pulled out' onto the page.
Witnessing this into being is a glorious thing. In painting I myself come vibrantly alive and the subject being painted comes newly to life. It's about freedom, joy, delight and awe and I'm privileged and honoured to be inspired to walk this path. Thank you for your engagement with these painting's I hope they ignite a joy in you that was present in their birth.
“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live. Be a man (woman) before being an artist!”
Auguste Rodin
CV
Aine Divine (B 1970, Republic of Ireland)
Education
Crawford College of Art and Design, Cork, One Year Certificate in Visual Education, 1988
Crawford College of Art and design, Cork, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1991
Crawford College of art and design and University College Cork, Higher Diploma in the Principles of Teaching Art, 1995
Selected Group Exhibitions
2016 Royal Institute of painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2016 RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London
2015 Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2015 Watercolour Society of Ireland, Annual Exhibition, County Hall, Dublin (Invited Artist)
2015 RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London
2015 RSW Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2015 Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the year finalists’ exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery, London
2014 Royal Institute of painters in Watercolour Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2014 RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London
2014 RSW Annual Exhibition, The Meffan, Forfar
2013 RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition, Bankside Gallery, London
2013 Greywalls - A Work of Art, Gullane Art Gallery, East Lothian
2012 RSW 132nd Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2012 Macmillan Art Show, Edinburgh
2012 Jack Goldhill Showcase 2012, Zabludowicz Collection, London
2011 Macmillan Art Show, Edinburgh
2011 Gullane Masters, Gullane Art Gallery, East Lothian
2011 Wayfarers, Dancing Light Gallery, West Linton
2009 RSW 129th Annual Exhibition, the Meffan, Forfar
2006 Star Portraits Exhibition, County Hall, London
2005 Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Engravers Annual Show, Mall Galleries London
Awards and Commissions
2014 Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, to paint voice Director Cicely Berry CBE
2014 Finalist, Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year Award’
2014 The Watermark Award, RSW Annual Show, The Meffan, Forfar
2014 Heatherleys Studio Award, RWS Annual Contemporary Watercolour Competition
2013 Shortlisted, Sky Arts ‘Portrait Artist of the Year Award’
2013 Windsor and Newton Awardwinner, RWS Annual Contemporary Art Show
2012 Finalist, Jack Goldhill Painting Prize, Zabludowicz Collection
2009 Appointed official portrait Artist for Hibernian Football Club
2005 Winner of BBC’s ‘Star Portraits’, selected by Dr. Mo Mowlam
1993 Awardwinner, Irish National Portrait Award
Bibliography
Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryant: ‘A Little Book of Portraits, beyond the canvas,’ Quadrille publishing Ltd 2014, front and back cover image, pgs. 36, 37, 70, 71, 138,139
Roy McGregor: ‘Greywalls – A Hidden Gem’, GFA publishing Ltd 2013, p. 159-183
Oliver Mittelbach: ‘Dan Browns Thriller-Schauplatze als Reiseziel’, Books and Friends Gmb H. Essen 2006, p145
Pam Bates: ‘Star Portraits- a Programme in the Making’, Art of England Jul-Aug 2005, p.21-41
‘Star Portraits’, Impress Print 2005, p. 26-29
Texts
‘Let the Energy Flow’ The Artist, September 2015, p. 40-44
‘Mirror Images’, Artists & Illustrators, June 2015, Front Cover, p. 43-50
‘Develop your Watercolour Portrait skills with Aine Divine’, the Artist April 2015, p.40-45
‘Portraits of Character’, the Artist, June 2011, p. 50-52
‘Painterly Portraits’ the Artist, June 2009, p. 41-43
‘Step by Step Portraits- Aine Divine’ Art of England, Nov 2006, p. 56-60
‘Divine Portraits’ Art of England, July 2006, p. 21-24
Teaching
2012-present Portrait Tutor, The Edinburgh Drawing School
2010-2013 Art Teacher, Lasswade High School
2003 Art teacher, St. Davids High School
2001-2006 Art Teacher, Penicuik High School
Additional Information
Instructional DVD “Watercolour Portraits with Aine Divine”, Townhouse Films Ltd
Works held in private collections in the United States, Holland and Ireland
