“Observing changes over time is a privilege not a given. The spring of 2020 was like no other, confined to 2 km and 5 km zones during lockdown. Slowing down enough to be able to witness the daily transformation of my surroundings was revelatory. When the first leaves appeared, I wondered had they always been so green. The bog and the river became havens and again I wondered has it always been so lush, so bursting forth with life, so charged. It truly was like seeing colour for the first time.”

Through the medium of paint, O’Connor’s work addresses personal issues and experiences whilst attempting to capture a moment in time. Acknowledging commonplace scenes, quiet moments, or landmarks of no particular significance, themes explored include small incremental changes over time, personal endurance and the art of getting through another day.