Dublin born  Artist Paul Ryan is extremely influenced by nature, particularly the Irish landscape which features extensively in his paintings. Observing it from different perspectives his work reflects the ever-changing mood, light and colour of a familiar place.

         In his 'Coastal landscapes' series  the artist creates a sense of solitude. Small figures are isolated within these landscapes giving the paintings a sense of calmness while the thin strips of sea that divide the land and sky help to convey a sense of boundless space, of infinite horizons. 



" My intention is not to try and imitate but evoke and reflect, to portray an idea of the coastal landscape being an idealised space leaving room for an emotional response."
           

           He is deeply driven by nostalgia which he finds in the texture of a weathered wall which has been beautifully transformed through time by the elements. He exploits this in his abstract and semi-abstract works, which are influenced by the Irish coastline and harbours. In his small semi-abstract pieces he wants to bring the viewer into the space rather than simply view a picture. These paintings are composites of a variety of observations juxtaposed to create unique and more personal compositions. 

           Pauls technique where he uses a combination of heavy texture and several thin, transparent layers of oil colour, built up slowly over time, often reveals passages from an earlier phase of the painting, enabling him to produce an intensity in his paintings.