about

Sinead Lawless is a painter living and working in Dublin, Ireland.

Her fascination with colour is apparent in her chromatic, impasto portraits and she explores themes which include introspection, illness/disease, neurodiversity, synaesthesia and somatisation. Sinead has no formal art training but has attended many workshops to help her to build her skills. She works predominantly in oils.

Sinead has most recently exhibited at Mall Galleries and the Royal Hibernian Academy and is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland and the Dublin Art Society.

Sinead also teaches at the Schoolhouse for Art in Enniskerry.


AWARDS & COMPETITIONS

2023 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year heats

2021 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week
Second place with portrait of Clive Myrie

2020 - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week
Second place with portrait of Dannii Minogue
Sitter’s pick with portrait of Floella Benjamin

2018 - Trinity College Provost Fund for Visual & Performing Arts

2016 - Winner of RTÉ’s ‘Painting the Nation’ 2016

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2022 - Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2022 - 161st Annual of The Society of Women Artists, Mall Galleries, London

2022 - ‘Bealtaine’, Carrickahowley Gallery, Portland, Maine, USA

2021 - Royal Institute of Oil Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London

2021 - 191st RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin

2021 - ArtNetDLR ‘Revival’ (online)

2020 - Expression Days by Fresenius Kabi, Virtual Art Gallery

2017 - Signal Arts Open, Bray, Wicklow

2016 - RTE’s ‘Painting the Nation’ - Pop-up Galleries

  • WinePort Lodge, Lough Ree

  • RHA, Dublin 2

  • Killarney Racecourse

  • ‘Wood Quay’, Carlingford Lough, Dundalk

  • Powerscourt House, Wicklow

ARTIST TALKS & FEATURES

2022 - Speaker at Neurodiversity Masterclass Series with UCD (IoN RDPU)

2022 - Panelist for UCD Neurodiversity Celebration Week

2020 - Featured on ‘The Wake Up’ with Headspace

2018 - Presentation for the Irish Society for Crohn’s & Colitis (ISCC) Open Day at the Gibson Hotel

2017 - Motivational talk and presenting awards at the Ursuline Annual Student Awards

2016 - Contestant on RTE’s Painting the Nation

ASSOCIATIONS

President of Dublin Art Society 2023

Member of Dublin Art Society, since May 2017

VAI Professional Member, since Sept 2017

COLLECTIONS

Work held in public and private collections including the State Art Collection

EDUCATION

‘Self-taught’ but …
I’ve had the absolute delight of attending many workshops with master artists including: Ellen Altfest, Aine Divine, Alan McGowan, Nicolas B. Robinson, Fergus Ryan, Pat Harris, Una Sealy, Colin Martin, Blaise Smith, Cian McLoughlin, Neil Condron, Brenda Malley, William A. Nathans and Gareth Reid

2018 - Painting Term II, RHA

2017 - Painting Term I, RHA

2011 - Train the Trainer (Fetac level 6), Total Focus

2003 - Software Development (QQI Level 5), Colaiste Stiofan Naofa

2000 - Higher Diploma in Animation, IADT

1997 - Leaving Certificate, Ursuline Convent Cork