John Hurley

I called in to John Hurley's Art Gallery on Denny Street in Tralee the other day to ask him if he'd like to be featured in Arts Attack. Smiling broadly he said, "I'd be delighted".

He then proceeded to alarm me with the amount of information he had to give me about his work. "John," I said, "how am I going to fit all this into my article?"

He responded with a modest shrug, as if to say "I'll leave that up to you!"

Looking around the gallery, which John opened in 2005, it is easy to see why he has become one of Kerry's best-known artists. His abstract oil paintings - confident and vibrant works of great passion and sensitivity to nature - are compelling and absorbing. Each painting exhibits characteristics that distinguish it as a John Hurley original, yet all vary significantly in style, composition, colour and mood.

"Opening the gallery has been a success," he told me. "I am managing to make a living from my sales."

The elemental power of the sea inspires John's work and that is why he has made Kerry his home. Since graduating from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin in 1984 he has had eleven solo exhibitions and is represented in private and corporate collections in Ireland and abroad. In 2005 he had a solo exhibition in London's Royal Albert Hall.

John Hurley is a rare talent. And he's actually a bit of a Renaissance man as he is also a musician of profound skill and ability. He is a gifted songwriter and released his popular CD "Wellspring" in 2000. In February 2006 his musical "Seagull's Dance", directed by David Hayes of "Riverdance" and "I Keano" fame, opened in Dublin's 350-seat Draíocht Theatre for a sell-out two week run.

John is even in the Guinness Book of Records because in 1998, in Killarney, along with Bagatelle's Liam Reilly, he wrote, recorded and transmitted a song in just under four hours. The song, "Leaving Abbie", was the fastest produced and broadcast song in history. Written in aid of the "Omagh Appeal" it reached No 15 in the Irish Charts.

"Open Sky", the opening track on Tommy's Fleming's current CD, "A Life Like Mine", is composed by John.

As a live performer John is, well, great. A fine singer and guitarist he plays regularly in Tralee where his admirable ability to interpret beautiful and emotive songs can be measured by the warm reception he effortlessly elicits from his audience. Baily's on Ashe St on a Monday night is strongly recommended if you appreciate original material.

Despite his incredible talent John Hurley is hugely approachable and really down to earth.

"I don't consider myself well-known. I don't have time to worry about it. I just want to work."

View John's paintings and pick up a copy of "Wellspring" at The John Hurley Gallery, Denny Street, Tralee or log onto