about
Sinead Lawless is a painter living and working in Dublin, Ireland.
Her fascination with colour is apparent in her chromatic, impasto portraits and she explores themes which include introspection, illness/disease, neurodiversity, synaesthesia and somatisation. Sinead has no formal art training but has attended many workshops to help her to build her skills. She works predominantly in oils.
Sinead has most recently exhibited at Mall Galleries and the Royal Hibernian Academy and is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland and the Dublin Art Society.
Sinead also teaches at the Schoolhouse for Art in Enniskerry.
AWARDS & COMPETITIONS
2023 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year heats
2021 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week
Second place with portrait of Clive Myrie
2020 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week
Second place with portrait of Dannii Minogue
Sitter’s pick with portrait of Floella Benjamin
2018 - Trinity College Provost Fund for Visual & Performing Arts
2016 - Winner of RTÉ’s ‘Painting the Nation’ 2016
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2022 - 161st Annual of The Society of Women Artists, Mall Galleries, London
2022 - ‘Bealtaine’, Carrickahowley Gallery, Portland, Maine, USA
2021 - Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2021 - 191st RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin
2021 - ArtNetDLR ‘Revival’ (online)
2020 - Expression Days by Fresenius Kabi, Virtual Art Gallery
2017 - Signal Arts Open, Bray, Wicklow
2016 - RTE’s ‘Painting the Nation’ - Pop-up Galleries
WinePort Lodge, Lough Ree
RHA, Dublin 2
Killarney Racecourse
‘Wood Quay’, Carlingford Lough, Dundalk
Powerscourt House, Wicklow
ARTIST TALKS & FEATURES
2022 - Speaker at Neurodiversity Masterclass Series with UCD (IoN RDPU)
2022 - Panelist for UCD Neurodiversity Celebration Week
2020 - Featured on ‘The Wake Up’ with Headspace
2018 - Presentation for the Irish Society for Crohn’s & Colitis (ISCC) Open Day at the Gibson Hotel
2017 - Motivational talk and presenting awards at the Ursuline Annual Student Awards
2016 - Contestant on RTE’s Painting the Nation
EXPERIENCE
2021 - present
Course Director at Schoolhouse for Art, Enniskerry
Creating, teaching, and directing, accredited oil painting classes for adults.
2023-2025
President of Dublin Art Society
Overseeing the running of Dublin Art Society est. 1961. Presidency is a two year tenure working with an elected committee to organise events, manage membership, and host an annual painting exhibition for 60+ members.
PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS
Before I turned my attention to painting, I worked for a number of companies, over the span of 16 years, as a …
Creative Director
Web Developer
Graphic Designer
Illustrator
Animator
ASSOCIATIONS
Member of Dublin Art Society, since May 2017
VAI Professional Member, since Sept 2017
COLLECTIONS
Work held in public and private collections including the State Art Collection
EDUCATION
‘Self-taught’ but …
I’ve had the absolute delight of attending many workshops with master artists including: Ellen Altfest, Aine Divine, Alan McGowan, Nicolas B. Robinson, Fergus Ryan, Pat Harris, Una Sealy, Colin Martin, Blaise Smith, Cian McLoughlin, Neil Condron, Brenda Malley, William A. Nathans and Gareth Reid
2018 - Painting Term II, RHA
2017 - Painting Term I, RHA
2011 - Train the Trainer (Fetac level 6), Total Focus
2003 - Software Development (QQI Level 5), Colaiste Stiofan Naofa
2000 - Higher Diploma in Animation, IADT
1997 - Leaving Certificate, Ursuline Convent Cork
