Bringing it all back Home....an exhibition of works by Bernadette (Berni) Boyce Brady
15 August 2023
Local artist, Bernadette Boyce Brady, launched her exhibition, ‘Bringing it all back Home’ this week at the Alley Theatre, Strabane.
Bernadette (Berni) Boyce grew up in the townland of Dernalebe outside Strabane in the fifties and sixties. Following her studies in Queens University Belfast from 1969 to 1973 she went to Dublin where she has lived and worked since. She pursued a long and successful career in Adult Education, retiring in 2015 from her role as CEO of AONTAS, The National Adult Learning Organisation in the Republic of Ireland.
When going to Art College was not considered an option in the late sixties, Berni kept alive her love of drawing and painting, developing her skills and style through constant practice, workshops and classes. She took courses in DLIADT, the Burren College of Art, a Masterclass run by the renowned American Abstract Artist Gwen Fox, and for the past fifteen years she has been a member of the Redwood Art School in Dun Laoighaire run by artist Louise Neiland. She is a member of Artnetdlr, a voluntary artists’ network based in Dun Laoighaire Rathdown. Her first solo exhibition. First Steps took place in the Barista Café Sandyford in 2017. Berni has exhibited in group shows run by Ardently and had a recent solo show entitled ‘Finding Joy Again’ organised through Artnet. Her work is held by several private collectors.
Berni reflects,
“Painting and drawing have always been part of my life. Growing up in beautiful rural Co. Tyrone gave me the gift of being in nature which fed my imagination and my love of colour and shape. As a child, the outworld was my playground and the inspiration to draw and paint what I saw around me. As a geographer I am drawn to the natural world and my work reflects that.
“Over the years my love of hillwalking has also led me to explore the beautiful landscapes near where I live in Dublin and Co. Wicklow, providing me with plenty of subject matter. More recently, during Covid when everything closed down I considered myself lucky to own a beautiful garden. With the gift of good weather, I was able to sit and work in my garden which provided the inspiration for my painting. I began to really look at what was growing there, the colours and shapes that changed with the morning and evening sun. As our world began to reopen and the possibility of travelling farther afield was restored, once again my fresh eyes focussed on natural subjects, plants, rocks, water and from this many of the works on display gradually emerged bringing with them a new found joy and appreciation of the gifts of nature.
“When I was invited to exhibit in my home town I was very excited to be able to bring my work back home and share it with old friends and neighbours in this beautiful venue. I work primarily in oils using both brushes and palette knives but I also use acrylics which allows me the freedom to experiment.”
‘Bringing it all Back Home’ is showing at the Alley Theatre until 14th September 2023. All pieces are available to purchase and the Alley Theatre Art Gallery is open from Monday until Saturday 10am – 4.30pm.
For more information, contact The Alley Theatre on 028 71 384444 or online www.alley-theatre.com