THE artist known as 'DM' is a self-taught artist who enjoys creating pieces that tell a story. Specialising in oils, he uses bold colours, strong marks and text within his work, creating a graphic style with a humourous edge.

Born in Ballyshannon, DM has been working overseas since 2002, but has a family home in Belleek, where his wife and two daughters currently live.

Here, he talks to The Impartial Reporter about his artistic background, what inspires his work, and what art means to him.

What is your artistic background?

I WAS good at art at school and I also did Honours Art for the Leaving Certificate.

Art and History were my favourite subjects in school, and I still have a passion to visit places of historical interest and art galleries.

I have to thank my Art and History teacher, the late William Finn, for his guidance – my artwork is in some way a personal dedication.

Are you self-taught or did you go to art school/do courses?

I’M self-taught and started to paint at the tender age of 42! It was a visit to the Wave Mall in Muscat, Oman that re-started my passion for art.

On that day, there were young children painting and colouring in a pre-drawn canvas of the late Sultanate of Oman.

I did Architectural Drafting at third level using ink pens and double negative film.

I was very good at the drafting, and my lecturer told me to take a year out and work in Europe – it was probably the worse career advice ever, as ACAD, architectural computer-aided design, was well on the way at that time!

What inspires your art?

MY INSPIRATION could be as simple as seeing a sign or a picture that has caught my attention.

I believe art should tell a story. Take my painting, 'Turkey Barber'; why the word 'Turkey' and not 'Turkish'?

It is common to see barber shops in Saudi Arabia with a shop sign on the glass front saying, 'Turkey Barber' or 'Turkey Saloon'. You will always see things that are lost in translation when away from home.

My painting, 'Irish Barber', is a follow-on from 'Turkey Barber' but it is a take on stereotypes.

I shared an office with a young Qatari colleague some years back; if he saw an Irish person with blue eyes and red hair, he would automatically assume all Irish had blue eyes and red hair!

The colour of the barber pole in 'Irish Barber' is a play on the red, white and blue. I do have a creative mind, as you can see in my paintings.

Who/what are your biggest influences?

MY BIGGEST influence on my art has been the various places I have been to in the world.

I recall being in Almaty in Kazakhstan and seeing a bank building; next to the bank was a garage with a large door.

Someone professionally painted a safe on the door – a bank with a sense of humour!

Is there a specific place that you do your work?

I DO my work when I have free time, which is usually on a Friday, as I currently reside in the Middle East.

I’m limited to a desk and chair if I’m lucky; currently, I’m sitting on a sofa with a coffee table due to the lack of a table and chair, which can be painful on the neck.

What has been your most ambitious piece, to date?

MY MOST ambitious piece, to date, and the one that took the most time was 'Angel & Demon'.

I do have another ambitious piece that I have started, but it will take considerable time to finish, and that is of a very old pick-up truck that had seen better days in Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia.

We passed this truck sitting outside a repair shop every day, going to work.

When I was taking the photograph, someone approached me as if I was going to buy it!

What different artistic media do you use and which is your favourite?

I USE oil paints on Winsor & Newton canvas boards; typically sized 610 x 508mm.

I tend to lean heavily on a pencil, and the boards are the best option for me.

I've also got to consider the fact I’m overseas a lot, so the boards can be bubble-wrapped and put into my luggage without much hassle.

What are you currently working on?

I’M DOING side profile pictures of a young boy who goes to school with my oldest daughter in Belleek.

This will be different to the silhouettes I have done before, in that I will mix colour with black and white medium.

I will also show his facial expressions.

Do you exhibit your work anywhere?

I HAVE yet to exhibit or sell any of my work. I would like to do an exhibition at some stage, as I feel it is important for any artist to get feedback from fellow artists, rather than family members and friends.

Any new artistic ventures planned for 2021?

I’M PLANNING to do a few satirical pieces on Covid, as I feel we all need some comic relief from the doom and gloom of the pandemic.

What has been your favourite project, to date?

MY FAVOURITE piece is Martyrs’s Statute In Beirut; it's a very poignant statue that did not escape some damage – you can see the damage, and visible bullet holes.

I also like my painting of the Zidane headbutt, and was lucky to see it for myself when it was on the corniche in Doha.

I do like statues, and I have seen a fair few on my travels.

What are you up to when you aren’t creating art?

I’M A Chartered Surveyor, so the day job can be demanding, and I’m currently working on a very large construction project – NEOM, Saudi Arabia, a planned cross-border city.

How would you describe your artistic style?

I WOULD describe my art style as graphical in nature, with a bit of a sense of humour thrown in.

I like to do contrasts such as mixing bright colours with silhouettes.

My first painting using oils was of the cedar tree in Downtown Beirut; the focus is on the tree, and everything else fades into the background.

The painting is highlighting the beauty of the tree.

What does your art mean to you?

MY ART gives me a sense of achievement, especially when I finish the piece. Art, for me, is like an essay – you plan your work and even during the painting stage, you look at it from a distance to see if looks like what you planned.

My artwork will be my legacy, in that future generations of my family can see my work, and wonder what I was thinking of at that time!

Art gives me the chance to switch off from the day job and focus on something totally different.