Artist Spotlight: William Ireland
William Ireland (b.) was a British landscape and portrait artist working across several mediums.
Ireland was trained as a colourist at the Glasgow School of Art in 1949, before working as a freelance illustrator for several years. During the 1980s, William Ireland chose to direct his attention on freelancing primarily working in London.
"He paints a room that makes you think the people will be coming back at any moment, so I keep looking, hoping that I'll see them! There is so much light, warmth and hope in his paintings that I am bursting with pride to be associated with him." - Maeve Binchy (Author)
With extensive experience as an illustrator, William Ireland is a highly versatile artist capable of creating diverse artworks across various mediums. Following a commission for the Doncaster Race Course, Ireland created a mural spanning 254x51cm. However, during an interview with Laura Gascoigne (Artists & Illustrators,1995), he confessed that he prefers ‘to work small, especially with interiors’. The detailed and small scale artworks enable him to create a more nuanced approach, combining the mastery of both bold strokes and bright colours.
“As someone who started as an illustrator, bound by the need for tight draughtsmanship and accurate representation, I think of fine art as a blessed release into a world of free brushstrokes and unfettered colour” - William Ireland reflects on the development of his artistic practice in an interview with Laura Gascoigne.
Ireland’s work has been featured in a number of institutions across the years. Ireland started submitting his work to various Fine Art Societies, leading to his artwork being showcased in multiple summer exhibitions. His work has been accepted by The Federation of British Artists, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters and The Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour. Furthermore, after exhibiting at the ‘Not Royal Academy’ show, Ireland began to regularly exhibit his work at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery. Over his career, Ireland exhibited at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery for over 12 years.
“I place a great value on spontaneity, and for me fresh-ness is crucial to success. Overworking a painting is always a danger” - William Ireland
Bridgeman Editions are excited to be working with William Ireland in showcasing his fine art prints, 'Al Fresco' and 'Gemini, 2005', produced on Archival digital print on Hahnemühle German etching paper. Both prints are available both framed and unframed and come with a certificate of authenticity.
We extend our gratitude to Cindy Ireland for her collaborative efforts with Bridgeman Editions.
Discover William Ireland's collection today!