Opening Reception Friday 7 June at 7pm • Curated by Derry Dillon • In association with Carlow Arts Festival 2013

Seven of Ireland’s leading Illustrators – chosen for innovation, wit, style, uniqueness and exceptional talent – were asked to respond to the subject of ‘extinction’, and to contextualise their submission with a viewing cabinet of influences and miscellany.

Olivia Golden is a Cork-based illustrator who has a broad skill-set in design and illustration and works comfortably in both traditional and digital media.

Stephen Maurice Graham is a Belfast-based illustrator whose work bristles with subtle narratives, eclectic form and playful colouration.

Current Children’s Laureate Niamh Sharkey is the author and illustrator of many of our favourite children’s picture books including I’m a Happy Hugglewug and The Ravenous Beast. With a distinct and playful painterly style, she is admired by a wide audience both in Ireland and abroad.

Steve Simpson is a freelance illustrator/designer working in the areas of packaging design, illustration and art for children’s books. (The cover of this programme is his work).

Steve McCarthy creates illustrations of charm and humour and with a distinct approach to each project and playful use of type and drawing his work spans a variety of media.

Phil McDarby is a Wicklow-based artist who visits the woods every single day for inspiration and produces distinct fantasy and science fiction artwork for advertising, production design, branding, and animation.

The Project Twins are the Cork-based FitzGerald brothers whose work uses bold graphics and visual wit to create striking illustrations to clearly communicate a subject matter.

The resulting exhibition will showcase some of the very best work emerging from Ireland’s rich bank of Illustrators, and present their practices in a gallery context.

TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

A panel discussion with Olivia Golden and The Project Twins on their practices will take place on Saturday 9th June in VISUAL at 2pm.

Stephen Maurice Graham will give a workshop in cartooning on Saturday 9th June in VISUAL at 11am for budding cartoonists of all ages.