The nature of my practice is finding connections between people and to our natural world. I use the visual media of drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics to communicate our shared connections. I am interested in the natural world and how our connection to it, can be healing. 

The inspiration for this body of work begins from the location of my studio where I have found a gorgeous connection to the Donegal natural landscape and wildlife. As I look over Mullanansole, I find myself watching the tide recede in excitement. As ocean slips away the sandbank fills with wildlife. Otters, seals, herons, oystercatchers, egrets, ducks and swans. Sometimes I wake up to the beautiful song of the curlew and I take my sketch book and camera down to sit on the shoreside. A river runs in front of my studio, only visible when the tide is low. Salmon and sea trout can be seen jumping to catch flies. I had thought that curlew were rare but every day there seems is more or maybe I’m just getting better at seeing them. They are very hard to see, camouflaged perfectly with the sand and it is only their brisk movement that catches your eye. 

The still and grey days seem to have more abundance of birds. The ducks move, like notes on sheet music, a gently connected flowing line across the sky. On the brief sunny moments the curlew can be seen on the water’s edge. They like to paddle in the shallows, in the water only a few centimetres deep and there, where the blue sky reflects on the water, their beauty comes into full view. A graceful and elegant bird with a long curved beak. 

I have found myself besotted with watching and sketching the birds. I love to sketch the birds, some quick and gestural and I use photos that I have taken for longer studies. I want to create work that documents and celebrates our abundance of wildlife. In an effort to appreciate the natural world and bring awareness to the delicate balance so that we can care for it.

Gillian Wright is an Irish multi-media artist currently living and working in Donegal Ireland, having returned after 12 years travelling, USA and France.

Gillian’s work was featured in Smashing Times, ‘Freedom of Expression’ November 2023 issue.

Her work was also included in the inaugural issue of Profiles Journal Oct 2022. 

Gillian was a recipient of the Agility Award 2022 from the Irish arts council.

She has exhibited in Solo exhibitions most recently Balade En Arts, Maisons-Laffitte, Paris 2020.

Gillian received her BFA with highest distinction from Nebraska Wesleyan University 2019.

Gillian is currently working on completing a body of multimedia work for two upcoming group exhibitions and a solo show in September 2024.