As soon as the strict COVID-related travel restrictions were introduced in Ireland on 29 March 2020 John Short began using his daily 2km permitted walk to make a visual record of his neighbourhood under 'lockdown'. Luckily for Short, his house and studio lie in the picturesque and historic town of Dalkey in Co. Dublin, known for its many medieval castles, grand Victorian architecture and superb coastal vistas overlooking Dublin and Killiney Bays. Using both sketchbook drawings and photography, Short made quick observations on his walks and then returned to his garden studio to paint the watercolours. John began sharing his daily paintings via Instagram and on the wildly popular local community Dalkey Open Forum Facebook page. The response was overwhelmingly positive from both locals and ex-pats worldwide and Jamie Gill of Gill's Opticians generously offered to hang a selection of works in his shop windows. When lockdown travel restrictions were lifted the series was postponed but with the introduction of a second lockdown in Oct/Nov, the watercolours started to appear again! To date, John has created 37 original watercolour paintings and 16 limited edition prints.
Between 4 - 7th December an exhibition was held in Dalkey's Town Hall which included the Visual Record series, plus a number of larger original paintings of Dun Laoghaire, Sandycove and Killiney also painted this year. The show was a great success and all works can still be viewed and purchased here in our online viewing room with unframed prints also available for shipping worldwide.
For further details please telephone +353 1 6724429
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"Since March this year I have been using the opportunity to work on a project creating a collection of watercolour drawings of views of Dalkey. Very quickly it turned into an attempt to lift the mood during lockdown. I have Dalkey Open Forum on Facebook to thank as it became the platform to show these works, often in daily posts, and I was delighted that they stimulated quite a positive following both from residents of Dalkey and surprisingly many Dalkey ex-pats around the world. In all, my ‘Dalkey Visual Record’ consisted of thirty watercolours and such was the response that I published a series of fourteen of them as a range of limited edition prints which are available to view below.
I’m including in this exhibition some other locally inspired larger works which I have been working on during this year.
Among others who live in Dalkey whom I have to thank are Tara Murphy, Director of Solomon Fine Art who is hosting this exhibition, Barry Dunne and Ken for picture framing and Jamie Gill of Gill’s Opticians who generously displayed a mini exhibition in his shop windows."
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ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS
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John ShortVico Bathing Place, Stepswatercolour & ink31 x 91cm€ 3,450.00View more details
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John ShortVico Bathers in OrangeWatercolour and ink55 x 70cm€ 3,700.00View more details
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John ShortWhite Rock Beachwatercolour and ink31 x 92cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortBank, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour & ink43 x 62cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortDalkey Castle, Castle Street, Dalkeywatercolour63 x 42 cmView more details
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John ShortSelect Stores, Castle Street, Dalkey #31watercolour53 x 39 cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortGrapevine Wine Bar, Castle Street, Dalkeywatercolour39 x 54cmView more details
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John ShortDalkey from Dalkey IslandWatercolour and ink65 x 100 cm€ 4,500.00View more details
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John ShortCastle Street Scenewatercolour, ink and collage50 x 100cmView more details
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John ShortBathing Scene on Coliemore Harbour Slipway., Dalkey, 2020watercolour and ink55 x 60 cmView more details
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John ShortColiemore Harbour Batherswatercolour & ink50 x 100 cmView more details
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John ShortCastle Street, Dalkeywatercolour60 x 46 cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortVico Road, Dalkeywatercolour54 x 50cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortBoat Hire, Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey, 2020watercolour40 x 50 cmView more details
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John ShortColiemore Harbour, Dalkey, 2020watercolour40 x 50 cmView more details
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John ShortJohn Short, Archbold's Castle, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour22 x 48cmView more details
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John ShortDalkey Island from Dillon's Park, 2020watercolour & ink26 x 75 cmView more details
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John ShortVico Bathing Place, Hawk Cliff, Vico Road, Dalkey, 2020watercolour40 x 50 cmView more details
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John ShortSelect Stores, Castle Street Dalkey, 2020watercolour43 x 63cmView more details
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John ShortThe Queens, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 50 cmView more details
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John ShortNerano Sailor, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 50cmView more details
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John ShortLoreto Abbey, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 50 cmView more details
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John ShortCafé, Coliemore Road, Dalkey, 2020watercolor50 x 62cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortBeacon Hill, Dalkey, 2020watercolour40 x 50cmView more details
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John ShortDalkey News, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 46cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortThe Dispensary, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 36cmView more details
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John ShortBandstand, Sorrento Park, Dalkey, 2020watercolour48 x 60cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortThe Telegraph, Dalkey Hill, 2020watercolour51 x 46cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortDalkey Rowing Club, Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey, 2020watercolour44 x 50cmView more details
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John ShortSuperValu, Castle Street, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 50cmView more details
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John ShortFormer Garda Station, Tubbermore Road, Dalkey, 2020watercolour46 x 46 cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortFinnegan’s, Sorrento Road, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 64cmView more details
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John ShortQueenstown Castle, Dalkey, 2020watercolour42 x 74 cm€ 1,800.00View more details
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John ShortKent Terrace, Dalkey, 2020watercolour50 x 64cm€ 1,600.00View more details
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John ShortSorrento Terrace, Dalkey, 2020watercolour26 x 101 cmView more details
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John ShortColiemore Villas, Dalkey, 2020watercolour38 x 102 cmView more details
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John ShortColiemore Road, Dalkey, 2020watercolour43 x 67 cm€ 2,750.00View more details
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John ShortForty Foot Bathers in YellowWatercolour and ink46 x 100cmView more details
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John ShortForty Foot Bathers, Cobalt Green SeaWatercolour and ink46 x 60cm€ 3,500.00View more details
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John ShortForty Foot Bathing WomenWatercolour, ink and graphite32 x 61cmView more details
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John ShortLighthouse, East Pier, Dun Laoghaire 1Watercolour and ink73 x 100cm€ 5,250.00View more details
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John ShortVico Bathers in UltramarineWatercolour and ink50 x 150cm€ 5,250.00View more details
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John ShortWest Pier, Dun Laoghaire Harbour in GreyWatercolour and graphite50 x 150cmView more details
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John ShortRuins and Goats on Dalkey IslandWatercolour and ink100 x 73cm€ 5,250.00View more details
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PRINTS
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LIMITED EDITION PRINTS
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John ShortBathers at Vico Bathing Place, Hawk Cliff, Vico Road, Dalkey (print)giclee print on Hahnemulle archival paper, edition 75 (UNFRAMED)54 x 70cmEdition of 75€ 375.00View more details
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John ShortDalkey Castle, Castle Street, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)43 x 30cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortBathing Scene on Coliemore Harbour Slipway, Dalkey (Print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)46 x 50cmEdition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortColiemore Harbour Bathers (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)49 x 90 cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 375.00View more details
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John ShortVico Road, Dalkey, 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)45 x 49cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortBoat Hire, Bulloch Harbour, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45 cmEdition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortColiemore Harbour, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45 cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortDalkey Island from Dillon's Park (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper (unframed)19 x 55 cmEdition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortVico Bathing Place, Hawk Cliff, Vico Road, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45 cmEdition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortThe Queens, Castle Street, Dalkey (print)giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)45 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortSelect Stores, Castle Street, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)30 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortNerano Sailor, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)45 x 45 cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortLoreto Abbey, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)45 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortFinnegan’s, Sorrento Road, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortDalkey Rowing Club, Coliemore Harbour (print)giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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John ShortBeacon Hill, Dalkey (print), 2020giclée print on Hahnemulhe archival paper, edition of 75 (UNFRAMED)35 x 45cm (image size)Edition of 75€ 250.00View more details
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Dalkey Town Hall
DirectionsDart / Train to Dalkey: 30 minutes from City Centre
By Car: Dublin City Centre: Dalkey is 12.8km south on N31 or N11.
M50 Motorway: Exit 16 (Cherrywood). Follow Signs for Killiney/Dalkey.
Parking: See Map of Dalkey
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BIOGRAPHY
John Short is from Fife in Scotland and is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal College of Art, London where he was awarded a travelling scholarship, the Berger Colour Prize and the Royal College of Art Drawing Prize. He worked for many years as a freelance illustrator in London and Ireland for various publications, including commissions from The Sunday Times, Harpers & Queen, Vogue, The Irish Times and The Sunday Independent. He has also had his illustrations published by Walker Books and Random House Group. A former Senior Lecturer in Drawing and Imagemaking at the School of Creative Arts, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, John recently retired from third level-teaching in order to concentrate on painting from his Dalkey-based studio full-time.
He contributes his paintings and prints to many gallery group and solo exhibitions including the Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, the Irish Watercolour Annual Exhibition, The Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, Solomon Fine Art, Dublin and V Gallery in Shanghai, China. Short’s distinctively joyous and highly original watercolours have earned him multiple Irish & international awards, including the prestigious 2012 Artist Prize at the Royal Watercolour Society in London and the Arnott’s National Portrait Award here in Ireland. His work can be found in numerous public and private collections such as the Áras an Uachtaráin, Department of Foreign Affairs, Bank of Ireland, the Shelbourne Hotel and Berger Paints. Most recently he completed a specially commissioned suite of prints for the King’s Inn Law Library in Dublin.
He is currently working on a collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures for a solo exhibition at Solomon Fine Art, Dublin in July/August 2020. -
John Short NEWS
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Sunday Independent
John Short: My Cultural Life May 24, 2020 John Short's talks about his Dalkey Visyual Record. To view all of the watercolours and prints click here: https://www.solomonfineart.ie/viewing-room/5-john-short-dalkey-visual-record-29-march-onwards/ -
Sunday Business Post: John Short
Propert & Fine Arts Section: Dalkey Visual Record May 3, 2020 -
Sunday Business Post: John Short
SBP Magazine: Dalkey Visual Record May 3, 2020 -
Irish Times: John Short
Dalkey Visual Record May 2, 2020 https://solomon-web-g6.artlogic.net/admin/records/news/_edit/88# -
Sunday Independent Life Magazine: John Short
Short stories... in artist's south County Dublin home March 7, 2015 John Short lives in a semi-detached house in south County Dublin dating from the 1960s, but it's fair to say that the interior bears little or no resemblance to its... -
JOHN SHORT: Sunday Independent Review
What Lies Beneath, Niall MacMonagle March 20, 2017 What Lies Beneath: Cockatoos, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Cockatoos, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney by John Short Niall MacMonagle March 20 2017 02:30 AM They get up late, they hang... -
John Short: Sunday Times Review
Culture Magazine: John O'Sullivan critic March 12, 2017
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