Derval Freeman

Derval Freeman graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design in 1996 with a diploma in fine art painting. She has exhibited in several solo and group shows throughout her career and her work is in many private collections. Some of the highlights of Derval’s career are taking up an artist residency in Cill Rialaig, Co. Kerry in 2007 and being an invited artist by the Hamilton Gallery Sligo to participate in two of their group exhibitions: 'Eva Gore Booth' and 'Among School Children'.

Originally from Co. Clare, Derval has been living and painting full time in Co. Wicklow for the past number of years. She goes out walking regularly and loves to be surrounded by nature and the open landscape. Her painting style leans towards abstract expressionism and there is an element of the figurative in the work too.

Her inspirations come from her life experiences past and present and from nature and the wonder of the universe. Her painting process always starts with the drawing. She mixes loose pencil and charcoal under drawings with layers in oils and cold wax. She is interested in how the loose under drawings dictate the paint. She also has an interest in colour - how one works off the other and how monotones of lights and darks influence colour.