Lucy McGowan

These introspective paintings emerge from a need to hold onto what feels essential: presence, connection, and the quiet intensity that comes with the fragility of life. This series began during a time when a close family member was living in hospital isolation due to cancer. It led me to reflect on what I’d miss most if I were in their place—genuine connection, shifting light, and the grounding presence of the land.

There’s something in the wildness of the Irish landscape that resonates with me. It’s unpredictable and raw, yet softened by weather and time. The tension of its wild and soft nature, and unpredictability, mirror the emotional contrast I often return to.

Using a combination of watercolour and oil paints, I aim to capture the ethereal intimacy of relationships and the fleeting changes in light that shape the mood of the land. I focus on atmosphere, texture, and tone to express a quiet longing—for land, light, and the emotional spaces I’d miss if they were no longer within my reach.

'Light, Still' brings together people, land, and light—not to tell a story, but to try to hold onto a moment before I feel it has slipped away.