BARRY BRITTON, ROSSNOWLAGH – SURF & MUSIC ART EXHIBITION
An accomplished artist & surfer living on the North West coast of Ireland specialising in pen & inks of traditional music, surf & landscapes in his unique Celtic style.
Also known as an architect, interior designer & etcher of glass, Barry is famous among surfers & trad music fans for his annual Intercounty Surf & his annual Ballyshannon Folk Festival posters. The Intercounties has been running since 1968 & the Folk Festival since 1978.
The artist was first approached about ‘doin an oul poster’ for the fledgling Ballyshannon Folk Festival by Anthony Travers. This encounter took place in Sean Og’s Pub where copious amounts of persuasive porter were slid across the wooden bar counter to ensure agreement could be reached ! And so , many decades later, we find Barry still dreaming up new ways to depict folk & trad musicians on these much sought after posters which have become collectors items. Indeed , the poster itself has reached such iconic status that musicians consider it a great honour to be selected as that year’s depicted artist. Many of the posters are on show & for sale at the Local Hands craft studio on Main St. Ballyshannon. The annual exhibition of original works has become a popular event & is a great opportunity to pick up a Barry Britton tinted pen & ink original.
This year’s show is very much influenced by a life changing 2024. Ill with heart disease and recovering from open heart surgery since he turned 70 in December a new energy and vision has appeared. There is an interesting contrast between his last picture pre-surgery, the dark painstaking “Raven” and the brightness and colour of “Resurrection” which he sketched after his brush with death on the operating table and only recently completed. Barry has resurrected some interesting pieces since his last art show in 2023 as well which contrast with this new vibrant style. Also on show are the illustrations from his collaboration with Olive and Éamon Travers book, Nets of Wonder. The Local Hands co-operative on Main Street, Ballyshannon are represented by wonderful wood carvings from Barry’s colleague, Jim McIntyre, which he has created specially for this show.
Abbey Arts Centre: Where Music & Art Meet: This year, Ballyshannon Folk & Traditional Music Festival, is delighted to again present an exhibition by their resident artist, Barry Britton. This exhibition will be launched on Thursday 31st July at 6.30pm in the Abbey Arts Centre and will be live in the centre until the end of August 2025. This is a unique opportunity to view the Barry’s artworks on display locally.
