CLOSER : drawings before the end

Large scale portrait drawings of family and friends made between1996-2000 using charcoal on paper 154 x 122 cm (5’x 4’) where the sitter is straddled, lying on the paper and drawn inches from their face. Initially the body is traced, then attention moves to the head, to portraiture with a close almost overwhelming focus, and single point perspective.

The working process originated from a series of earlier drawings in lithographic crayon, from cadavers in the Anatomy Department of the Royal College of Surgeons made in Dublin in 1993. These works focused attention on what is ‘not life’ and lead to working closer and closer to the subject, in seeking the spark of life force to trigger drawing and action. This eventually resulted in the series of large scale portrait drawings CLOSER that collaborative physical closeness of presence for their making.


Closer: drawings
CLOSER: selected works
Closer Drawings
CLOSER: Selected drawings 1996-2000

Drawings on 5’x4 (154 x 122 cm) paper in charcoal and conté of family and friends. Made at very close proximity from a single narrow perspective point straddling the sitter and drawing face to face


Exhibited Rubicon Gallery, Dublin (2000), Art Space Gallery, London (2000); Kilkenny Arts Festival (2001) & Royal Hibernian Academy in ‘Figure to Ground’ (2003)

Documentary images: Closer
CLOSER: documentary images

selected video still and photographs of CLOSER drawings in progress and The Royal College of Surgeons, Anatomy department in 1993


Published in catalogue “CLOSER: drawings before the end” by Rubicon Gallery and Art Space Gallery, London (2000)

Anatomy Drawings 1993
CLOSER: anatomy drawings

Drawings of cadavers from the Royal College of Surgeons from 1993


Exhibited Rubicon Gallery, Dublin (2000), Art Space Gallery, London (2000); Kilkenny Arts Festival (2001) & Royal Hibernian Academy in ‘Figure to Ground’ (2003))

CLOSER : links

Selected press
Whats On-London 3/5/2000
The Irish Times 26/1/2000
Independent-London 8/4/2000
Texts & publications
CLOSER text (catalogue extract PDF)