Bob Scott

Bob and his wife Mary

I was invited to visit a gallery in Ballyduff by local artist Bob Scott and so, on a wet and dreary Wednesday morning, I set out to look for, "the second bungalow on the hill before Ballyduff." When I found the right house I felt as though I had come across a hidden treasure!

The gallery is in Bob's house and he has dedicated one of the bedrooms to his artistic vision. The room is split into four, distinct, tiny mini-galleries - each with a unique and individual feel. His gallery is an inimitable and moving experience; an installation in four parts.

The separate, yet connected, sections create a fluid experience as Bob guides the visitor from Fisherman's Hut through Rising Tide to Artists Studio and, finally, to the captivating Buildings . "I started with individual paintings and didn't realize that the whole thing would take over!" laughed Bob looking around at his creation.

This tiny artists' studio, which is set a few short miles from the sea, features over a hundred pictures which stare out at the viewer creating an atmospheric story and a feeling of nostalgia. Many of the works are of nearby Ballyheigue including Bobs' favourites; the rugged cliffs and landscapes of Meeneghane, Men's Strand, Ladies Strand and Nuns Strand. "My gallery is not just an exhibition of pictures - it's a North Kerry experience," said Bob.

It is now over ten years since Bob Scott fell in love with, and settled in, Kerry and his obvious love of his adopted home has found its way into his gallery. Although never classically trained, Bob sat in fields as a teenager and painted for pleasure. As a youngster he entered, and won, a BBC art programme, Sketch Club, but life and a full-time job as a teacher left precious little time for painting. It was not until he took early retirement and moved to Kerry that he was able to fulfill his dream of opening his own studio and gallery.

Through his work, he explores the identity, the confidence and the understanding of the North Kerry community. "My pictures appeal to a sense of past and present," explains Bob while the gallery is a multi-sensory exploration of North Kerry and delicately displays the rich heritage through Bob's unique interpretation.

From the more traditional oil on canvas paintings to the distinctly untraditional painted beach on the floor of the studio there is plenty to see and touch. If you are looking for a unique gift, mantle-piece talking point or just visual enchantment and sensory stimulation then head to Ballyduff and enter the world of Bob Scott.

For more information of if you would like to visit the gallery please contact Bob directly on 066 714 8103 or e-mail him at bobscottballyduff@gmail.com