Born on the east coast of Ireland, I was fascinated from an early age in painting, drawing and photography. In college I studied aeronautical engineering but continued to enjoy artwork in my spare time.

During my degree I spent 2 years in Italy, first at Pisa, then Cremona, near Milan. The Mediterranean approach to design and colour made a deep impact on me and confirmed in my mind the direction I wanted to take as a visual artist. It was in this time that I first started experimenting with sculpture, making small clay models which soon approached the limit of portability. Thanks to a steady income from my technical career, I was able to get some of these models cast. I entered these first castings for the RHA 2002 Annual Exhibition and they were accepted. The sale of several copies during the show, encouraged me to take up sculpting full-time.

In 2003 and 2005 sculptures were again accepted for the RHA Annual Exhibitions. Since then, I have continued to work in clay and bronze, but have also worked with carrara marble. During this time I was a regular competitor in public art tenders.

In 2004 I moved to Berlin, a city with an international reputation for its vibrant art scene. Here many new opportunities presented themselves. I developed my skills in a twice-weekly artist circle for life-drawing. In the period 2004 - 2008 I started concentrating more on painting and exhibited in several exhibitions and group shows in Berlin.

In 2008, with my return to Ireland, I started looking for galleries again to exhibit work, while keeping one foot still on the ground in Berlin. I exhibited both paintings and sculptures in galleries on the east coast, most recently at Sol Art, Dawson St., Dublin. I completed three terms at the RHA Life Sessions and at the moment am participating weekly with a life-drawing group in the United Arts Club, Dublin.

In September 2014 I was shortlisted for the Hennessy / National Gallery of Ireland Portrait Prize.

In 2015 I was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Currently I am thrilled to be taking part in the shortlist for the 2016 Hennessy / National Gallery of Ireland Portrait Prize

Contact me at: gavanmac@gmail.com