Local artist featured in British Vogue exhibits work in Athlone

Local artist Avril Egan who recently featured in British Vogue currently has a new exhibition on display at the Village in Burgess, Athlone.

The exhibition consists of 11 paintings in total, eight of which are for sale.

Avril took inspiration for the new artwork from lockdown when she returned home to Curraghboy for some respite. "My art pays tribute to country life with subjects of self-reflection, decision making and strange relationships."

Avril described her new paintings as being based in an isolated setting with the human figure within the landscape.

Avril's work has incredibly also been featured in British Vogue. “Katie Colwell from British Vogue stumbled across my Instagram and she curates the Vogue Gallery Section on British Vogue magazine. She saw I painted a lot of fashion paintings. She reached out to me by email and I thought it was a scam at first.”

The high fashion magazine have since asked Avril for a new painting each month to feature her in their Gallery Section until the end of the year.

“I like to keep things fresh and enjoy the challenge,” said Avril of the opportunity to regularly feature in British Vogue.

“I've had no formal training. It was always in me to do it (art). I'm looking forward to what the future will bring. I didn't think I'd be in British Vogue. It's surreal. My late grandmother was a dress designer and she would have dreamed of it. It hasn't sunk in properly yet.”

Pre pandemic the local artist said she was heavily influenced by fashion and design and enjoyed looking at what colours prominently featured on the catwalk each season.

When Avril first began her career as an artist she made greeting cards which displayed drawings of models on the card.

Avril continued: “I took time to self-assess during the pandemic, taking inspiration from nature, people watching and personal experiences.”

Although Avril doesn't have any professional training in art she said she has been drawing since she could grip a pencil. “My parents always encouraged it. I took up art classes in primary school and had a brilliant teacher in secondary school.”

Avril decided to do an Arts degree to keep her options open and studied English, Irish and Performing Arts at NUIG. Despite this, the talented artist still gravitated towards art and design and got involved in set design at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway.

“Early on I was rejected by art shops and galleries. You just never know where the road will take you,” concluded Avril.

The Curraghboy native is also currently working on illustrations for a children's book written by Siobhán Lally.