Jim Shanahan

I am an Irish painter working primarily in oils on canvas. My work explores the interaction between light, colour, and atmosphere, often focusing on transitional moments where form softens and presence becomes heightened.

While rooted in observation, the paintings are not intended as literal records of place. Instead, they draw on memory, experience, and imagination to create scenes that feel familiar yet slightly removed from direct reality.

I am particularly interested in the way natural and architectural light shapes mood — whether through dappled foliage, interior spaces, or fading evening illumination. Colour is used deliberately, with restraint and balance, to support atmosphere rather than overwhelm it.

Although I paint a variety of subjects, the unifying element across my work is an emphasis on light as a structuring force — guiding composition, rhythm, and emotional tone.

I am a self-directed artist whose training has developed through sustained practice, focused study, and long-term observation of painting traditions.

Alongside independent study, I trained for two years with Dublin-based painter Brian McCarthy, refining foundational skills in drawing, composition, and the handling of colour.

My background includes formal study in science, which has informed a disciplined approach to problem-solving and visual analysis within my painting practice.

I have received national recognition for my work, including a second prize award in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition, one of Ireland’s long-established national art competitions.

My first solo exhibition was held at Clonmel Exhibition Space, Clonmel, County Tipperary.

My work is held in private collections in Ireland and internationally.