Born in Drogheda Co. Louth, Nano Reid trained at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin, where she studied under Sean Keating and Harry Clarke. Afterwards she travelled to Paris, enrolling at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére along with other Irish artists such as Kathleen Fox. Reid then attended the Central School in London, studying under Bernard Meninsky. In 1929 she returned to Ireland where she stayed until 1962 during which time she exhibited regularly at the Dawson Gallery and the R
HA. Her first solo exhibition was held at the Dublin Painters Gallery in 1934. After returning to Ireland, Reid spent the rest of her life in Drogheda, concentrating on painting aspects of local life and landscapes. However, her paintings are in no way bound by a sense of locality, but are accomplished essays in painterly abstraction. By 1942, she had established a reputation for her richness of invention, with economy of means, and her watercolour landscapes were compared to those of Raol Dufy.
She exhibited at the RHA during the 1930s; but, from 1943, generally exhibited with the Irish Exhibition of Living Artists, the Dublin Painters and later with the Independent Artists. She represented Ireland with Norah McGuinness at the Venice Biennale in 1950 and exhibited at the Guggenheim International Exhibition in New York in 1960.
Nano Reid's work features in 'Irish Women Artists: 1870-1970' (2014). Please click here to view the catalogue.
Reid's work was also included in the following Adam's loan exhibitions:
'A Celebration of Irish Art and Modernism' (2011)
'Ireland: Her People and Landscape' (2012)
'Gerard Dillon: Art and Friendships' (2013). Please click here to view the catalogue.
'George Campbell and the Belfast Boys' (2015). Please click here to view the catalogue.
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