Martin Mac Keown (1931-2003) Geraniums on the Windowsill Oil on canvas board, 45 x 60cms (17.7 x 23.6) Signed, inscribed with title verso Exhibited: ''Martin Mac Keown - A Forgotten Painter'' The...

Martin Mac Keown (1931-2003) Geraniums on the Windowsill Oil on canvas board, 45 x 60cms (17.7 x 23.6) Signed, inscribed with title verso Exhibited: ''Martin Mac Keown - A Forgotten Painter'' The Ava Gallery, Sept/Oct 2011, Cat. No. 1 Although born in Northern Ireland, Martin Mac Keown spent most of his life abroad and sadly has become just a footnote in Irish Art books either as the son-in-law of Tom Carr or colleague of Basil Blackshaw. His son, James is also a painter who now lives and works in France. He has reconnected with Ireland having had exhibitions in both Dublin and Belfast. Martin studied at the Belfast College of Art where John Luke and Romeo Toogood numbered amongst his teachers. His first two-man show was with Basil Blackshaw with whom he worked very closely at the CEMA (Arts Council) Galleries. He won a scholarship from the Belfast College of Art to study at Edinburgh College of Art and from there he won a scholarship that took him across Europe after graduation. This was the beginning of his travelling which he continued to do with his family, even living for a while in Turkey. He returned to painting seriously in the late 1980's and exhibited in London and Belfast as well as with several regional galleries in the UK.

View more View less