Born in Ardee, Pádraig trained as a primary school teacher but his passion was to paint. In the early years he satisfied this need by painting stage scenery and sets for various choral, musical, and dramatic societies in the region. But in the 1960’s he attended U.C.D, obtaining a degree in Archaeology and History of Art, and in the early seventies he studied under the watchful eye of the late George Collie R.H.A. at his studio in Schoolhouse Lane in Dublin.
In 1976 he held his first solo exhibition in the Callan Gallery in Drogheda, and in subsequent years had solo shows in the Kennedy Gallery, Leinster Gallery and United Arts Club Dublin; also, in the Purple Onion Gallery in Tarmonbarry, The Courthouse in Cavan and in The Backstage Theatre in Longford. Since 1980 he has been a regular exhibitor at R.H.A. Annual Exhibitions and has exhibited at Oireachtas and R.H.A. Banquet shows. Selected Collections and commissions include, Irish Distillers, Irish Financial Centre, E.S.B., Government Buildings, Mater Private Hospital, Ulster Bank, Bushmills Distillery.
Most of his work is in oil, landscape and still life, but he also works in watercolour. His approach to painting is simple, he paints what he sees. His early work was influenced by the work of the Ulster landscape painters, Frank McKelvey, James Humbert Craig, Paul Henry, and Maurice Wilks. Much of the landscape painted by these artists was rugged and mountainous and later he would come to admire the work of Constable, and also that of Edward Seago, who worked in the flat landscape of Norfolk and Suffolk, landscape that is similar to that of Counties Louth and Meath, especially the flood plains of the river Boyne, Dee, Glyde and Fane and these broad flat areas whether in pasture or tillage, have great appeal to him.
He has always enjoyed painting still life. The work of Chardin, and that of the great Dutch and Flemish painters, Vermeer, Willem Claesz and Pieter Claesz have always been a major source of inspiration. His studio is full of glass, porcelain, and pottery, bottles, jars, dishes, and vases. The addition of a flower or a piece of fruit will always keep him happy. The primrose is his favourite flower.
