Marie Deese Driscoll

An Irish artist living in West Cork. Reflected in her work is the deep-rooted sense of being a part of Ireland and not just an observer.

Marie’s father, John “Denis” O'Driscoll of North Kilmona, Sherkin Island, left his farm and fishing nets to go to England for his cousin’s wedding. In 1948, 27 years later, he returned to Ireland as a successful business man. During the time spent across the water he met and married a west of Ireland lady of great beauty. They had three girls who enjoyed an upbringing steeped in legend, song and stories of pirates, sunken galleons, ruined fortresses and deserted islands. Summers were spent on Sherkin. The past irrevocably fused with the present.

Where a second cousin who died 250 years ago was just often referred to as the one still alive and kicking and living west the road. How could the soul not be captured by the dramatic beauty and delightful eccentricity of Baltimore and the islands or Sligo’s majestic beaches?

The youngest daughter, Marie, now grown up, divided her time between working in Dublin or on Sherkin. At the age of 19 she was discovered as an up and coming young talent by the Abbey Theatre and was employed there in the design department to learn the intricacies of set design, costume design and scenic art. She became well established on the theatrical scene and subsequently went freelance and worked for every major theatre and opera house in Ireland and summers were spent on Sherkin.

At 25 she married, left Ireland and spent ten years touring the world with her husband, painting as she went. Now, she has a successful career as a landscape und portrait artist and is now based permanently in West Cork.

1979 - 1985 Theatre design, Abbey, Gaiety, Gate, Dublin Grand Opera Society, Irish National Opera etc.

1988 Exhibition “Oils” (Esslingen a. N., Germany)

1990 Exhibition “Silk Paintings” (Baghdad, Iraq)

1993 Exhibition “Cartoons and Caricatures” (Warsaw, Poland)

1994 Art classes in oil (Bangkok, Thailand)

1995 Exhibition “Art for Scientists”, R&D Science Institute (Taejon, Korea)

1996 – 1998 Event management, interior design, Hotel chain “Lotte” (Seoul, Korea)

2003 Exhibition “Irish Landscapes”, House of Design and Hautcouture (Sindelfingen, Germany)

2004 Exhibition “Land and Seascapes”, Gallery Artist (Germany)

2004 Exhibition “Yachts and Seascapes”, Galleria (Palma de Mallorca)

2007 Exhibition “Nudes and Neighbours”, Galleria Zeus (Esslingen a. N., Germany)

2008 Exhibition “Baltimore and the Islands”, Casey’s of Baltimore (West Cork, Ireland)