Jimmy Lawlor

Jimmy Lawlor was born in Wexford in December 1967. Now living in Westport, he has been exhibiting for over 20 years.

Lawlor's work is based not only on the Irish sense of humour, but on the vivid realisation that the old way of life will have vanished by our next generation. He draws on inspiration from nature, fairy tales, and fantasy. In the late 80s and early 90s he worked on several major animated films including; 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Murakami Wolf, Dublin Ltd, 'The Shamrogues', Anno Domino, Dublin 1990-1991, 'The Little Punkers', Trickcompany Studios, Hamburg, Germany and 'The Sign of the Fish', Setanta Studios, Co. Wicklow.

In the 90s he designed posters for The Galway Arts Festival, The International Children's Festival, and Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery.

His work takes elements from his surroundings and mixes them with the people of the place, in their environment and doing what they love best. In their own way, they have helped create the atmosphere around them, whether they be farmers, business people, students or otherwise.

Each town has its own characters and characteristics but they are basically the same in every town. He applauds these people and their character, which makes them unique. Lawlor appreciates the humour of the Irish people, he finds the gentle mannerisms that he encounters while painting them honourable.

Lawlor’s work has been likened to the works of the surrealist’s – “imagine a Salvador Dali who has regained at least half of his sanity and moved to the west of Ireland, and you begin to enjoy art that is not only accessible, but as warm and fantastic as a good dream”. Lawlor’s work is included in many important private and corporate collections in Ireland and all around the world. Among them, Hugh Leonard, Treasury Holdings, Diageo Ireland, Dermot Desmond, Brenda Fricker, Great Southern Hotel Group, Government Buildings and Anglo Irish Bank, London.