Neal Greig

Neal Greig was born in Belfast in 1965. He studied Fine Art in Edinburgh College of Art from 1983-1987 then went on to a Post Graduate in Drawing and Painting from 1988–1989, where he was awarded the Andrew Grant Scholarship for Post Graduate Study. In 2018 Neal was elected as a member of the Royal Ulster Academy.

"Exploring the language of paint and investigating creativity of the moment are fundamental aspects on my journey of making a painting. The elemental combination of earth, air, fire and water are my core subject matter, once thought by the ancient Chinese to be the components of a human body. I seek to infuse and overlap these elements in a distillation of paint. There are musical and poetic comparisons as I aim to create a breadth of dialogue in response to a live landscape situation. I weave a line between abstract passages of paint that which is familiar, analytical and representational.

I document the light, space and texture, spontaneously painting the changes, observing and marking the passing of time. At times a vigorous approach is employed, capturing a sense of urgency in an effort to catch the changing light. This could then pass on to analytical observation, seeking to emulate the subtle complexity of natural forms. Working outside brings an instinctive aspect to painting. I employ a directness of articulation and economy of language. At times areas are left understated while other areas are the focus of attention. This is reflective of how the mind, the eye and the hand respond in a cohesive flow in response to working from life, whilst the creative energy emanates from the heart. I look for a sense of pictorial space, taking the furthest point from the eye, then drawing the composition towards me. Conversely, the viewer, looking at the surfaces and reading the painting is gradually drawn through the space. In a sense I am painting an organic, natural space rather than a picturesque view of the landscape. I am not averse to the beauty and interconnectedness of things. The palette of colours is kept simple. Considerable mixing takes place, on the palette and on the painting.”- Neal Greig

Education

Edinburgh College of Art Edinburgh Scotland 1983 1987
BA Hons Fine Art
Edinburgh College of Art Post Graduate Diploma Fine Art 1988 – 1990.

Awards

2017 Artist in Prison Scheme The Arts Council Ireland
2015 Artist in Prison Scheme Arts Council Ireland
2012 Artist In Prison Scheme Arts Council Ireland.
2011 Pollock Krasner
Award Jackson Pollock Foundation New York
Culture Ireland Grant , Imagine Ireland America
2009 Artist in Residence in Reardon House Newfoundland .
Arts Council Travel Award
2009 Monaghan Co. Council Professional Artists Grant
2007 Professional Arts Grant Monaghan Co. Council
2006 Professional Arts Grant Monaghan Co. Council
2004 Fellowship to Vermont Artist Studios Vermont , U.S.A.
2001 AerLingus Travel Award to Chicago U.S.A.
2000 Millennium Fund Monaghan Co. Council
1998 Leader Grant rural Development Award Cavan .
1994 Northern Ireland Art Council Award
1995 Aer Lingus Travel Award to Italy
1988 Andrew Grant Scholarship to Edinburgh art College.

Commissions

2009 Portadown Health Centre Shortlisted
2007 Cork City airport Hotel
2004 Patrick Kavanagh Bicentenary Monaghan Co. Museum
2002 CPV Clones Fugi Sawa
2001 Queens University Dept. Palaeocology , Belfast
2001 Derrygannon Community Group, Co. Monaghan
2000 Knocktallon Community Group Co. Monaghan

Residencies

2016 Custom House Studios Mayo.
2015 Ballinglen Art Foundation Mayo.
2014 Artist in residence Ontario Arts Society
2012 Ballinglen Art Foundation Co. Mayo
2011 Cillrailling Art Studios Kerry
2009 Reardon House Newfoundland
2007 Ballinglen Art Foundation Co. Mayo
2005 Ballinglen Art Foundation Co. Mayo
2004 Ballinglen ArtFoundation Co., Mayo
Cillraillig Art Studios Co. Kerry
Vermont Art studios Vermont U.S.A.
2003 Cillrailig Art Studios Co. Kerry
Loophead Lighthouse Co. Clare
Artist in Residence Belfast Print Workshop.
2000 ` Artist in Residence Termon House Donegal.
1999 Artist in Residence TermonHouse Donegal
1990 Artist in Residence TheTyrone Guthrie Art Centre Monaghan

Reviews

Visual Arts Ireland 2016
Irish Arts Review Magazine June 2016
Clefnote Chicago 2011
Aiden Dunne The Irish Times. 2010
Fred Johnson TheSunday Time Cultural Magazine.
Aiden Dunne The Irish Times
Ian Hill Belfast Telegraph.

Solo Exhibitions

2017 Doorway Gallery Dublin
Custom House Studios Mayo
Alley Art Centre Strabane Co Tyrone
2016 Claremorris Contemporary Fine Art . Co Mayo
2015 Fidra Fine Art North Berwick Scotland
Doorway Gallery Dublin
2013 The TomCaldwell Gallery Belfast
2012 Claremorris Contemporary Fine Art
The Market House Monaghan
2011 Lydon Contemporary Chicago
Peter Lewis Gallery St Johns Newfoundland
2009 Blackbird Gallery Kilkenny
Buckley Gallery Co. Cork
2008 Tom Cadwell Gallery , Belfast
The Market House Gallery Monaghan
2007 The Private Collector Gallery , Cork
2006 The Private Collector Gallery , Cork
2005 The Mullen Gallery , Belfast
The Private collector Gallery, Cork
The Market Place Gallery , Armagh N. Ireland
2003 An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
The Mullen Gallery, Belfast
2002 Atlantic Light, Wellspring Gallery Co. Kerry.
On Edge, the Origin Gallery Dublin.
2001 Artemisia Gallery , Chicago, U.S.A.
Mullingar Art Centre, Co. West Meath.
1999 The Logan Gallery ,Galway
Source The Dolmen Gallery Waterford.
Source Drochied Art centre, Drogheda
New Works St Patricks train, Armagh n. Ireland
1995 Donagh Series Monaghan County Museum
1994 Donagh Series the Basement Gallery, Dundalk Co. Louth
Donagh Series The Cootehill Arts Festival Cavan.
1992 New Works Harmony Hill Art Centre Lisburn, Co. Antrim
New Works The Crescent Art Centre Belfast.
1990 The Step Gallery Edinburgh Scotland.
Hanover Fine Art Edinburgh Scotland.

Two Artist Exhibitions

2012 At Home Exhibition Tom Cald Well Gallery , Belfast
2011 Tom Caldwell Gallery Belfast
2010 The Origin Gallery , Dublin
2004 The Wellspring Gallery, Co. Kerry
1997 New Works The Paul Kane Gallery Dublin.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2016
Winter Show Gerber Fine Art Glasgow.
Barbara Stanley Gallery London
Hamilton Gallery Sligo
Pentland Fine Art Aberdeen
Glow Catherine Hammond Gallery Cork
Boyle Kingshouse Exhibition
2015
Boyle Exhibition Roscommon
The Claremorris Gallery
The Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition
2014
The Claremorris Contemporary Art gallery Ireland
The Open Eye Gallery Edinburgh
The Arusha Gallery Edinburgh
2013
The Royal Academy London.
2010
The Boyle Arts Festival 21 st Anniversary of The Civic Collection
2008
The Blackbird Gallery, Co. Kilkenny
2007
Art Fair New York
2006
The Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon.
Tom Caldwell Gallery Belfast.
2005
The Boyle Arts Festival, Co. Roscommon
2004
Lydon Fine art, Chicago U.S.A.
The Mullan Gallery , Belfast.
The Hammond Gallery Cork
2003
Revealing Objects Queens University Belfast.
Royal Ulster Academy
2002
Revealing Objects Queens University Belfast.
The Royal Ulster Academy , Belfast
Mullan Gallery, Belfast
Light and Space The Screig Gallery Donegal
The Boyle Arts Festival Contemporary Ulster Artists.
2001
Daffodil Gallery Skerries Dublin
1999
Daffodil Gallery Skerries Dublin
Gaelforce Gracefielf Art Centre Dumfries Scotland
The Henziel Gallery, Aberdeen.
Island Works Monaghan Co. Museum
1998
Paul Kane Gallery, Dublin
1997 The Carrol Gallery Longford.
Burdwedel Arts Festival Germany
1996 Designs on Peace U.S. Embassy Dublin
NewWorks The Dyehouse Gallery Waterford.
1994
Iontas Sligo Art Gallery
1993
Heartland SeaboundTheSligo Art Gallery.
1992
Heartland Seabound The Old Museum Building Belfast.
Heartland High Plains, The Market House Gallery Monaghan.

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Mayo County Council
Beaumont Hospital
Drogheda Hospital
ACC BANK
OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS
DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL
BOYLE CIVIC COLLECTION
RENAUTL IRELAND
BANK OF IRELAND
MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL
LIMERICK COUNTY COUNCIL
TYRONE GUTHRIE ART CENTRE
MONAGHAN COUNTY MUSEUM
AIB BANK
AN GRIANAN THEATRE LETTERKENNY
MONAGHAN COUNTY COUNCIL
MONAGHAN VEC.
NEW BRUNSWICK , CANADA