Donald Teskey: Haven to Haven

July 12 – August 4, 2019

Known for his dedicated interest in the west coast of Ireland, Donald Teskey has visited West Cork for more than two decades, drawn to its embracing, sometimes dramatic landscapes of sea edges, harbour towns, mountains, forests, farms and waterways.   Haven to Haven brings together 40 of Teskey’s paintings from the Mizen to the Beara peninsulas, as well as Gougane Barra, the Gearagh and places in between.  Also featured are 10 of his seascape carborundum prints, the first time this work will be shown together.

Teskey was born in Co. Limerick and graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1978.  He came to prominence as an artist through his skill as a draughtsman during the 1980s with several significant solo exhibitions.  Since 1992 he has crafted out an internationally recognised body of work as a painter of the landscape focusing on the ruggedness of the Irish western seaboard. Sometimes working on a very large scale, his work reflects his response to the formal elements of composition:  shape, form and the fall of light.  The result are almost iconographic images of the Irish landscape with large abstract passages and surfaces which articulate the relentless, energetic and elemental force of nature.

This large show is the flagship exhibition of the Skibbereen Arts Festival.  Below is a sample of some of the work from the show.