BIOGRAPHY

VAL BYRNE,  B. Arch. NUI., FRIAI.


Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1936.
Folowing his secondary education he went on to study Art and Arcitecture at University College Dubin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
After a short spell working in London he returned to Dublin and set up a practice in partnership with another architect.
Val has painted all of his life with a major win in a national art competion in Ireland in his teens. However with the practice growing apace his painting fell by the wayside. By the early 70's the business had grown into one of the larger practices in Dublin and was carrying out major projects throughout Ireland. This led to an expansion of the of its architectural services with the opening of an office in Nigeria which was followed by other offices in Sudan and Libya.

In 1985 he was awarded and made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. 

In the late 1980's he retired from the profession and set up an Art Gallery in Bray, Co. Wicklow. He then started back into full time painting.
Because of his architectural background Val has a particular interest in the urban landscape of Ireland, so most of his workis related to the recording the Ireland of the 20th and 21st Century with an emphasis on the harbours, boats and the mixture of domestic and residential building which surround them. His paintings include the bright colours of the painted buildings which are nowadays very characteristic of the towns, villages and harbours around Ireland.

His work is held in private and corporate collections throughout the world including
Mary McAleese, President of Ireland
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights.
Jean Kennedy Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.
Dept of Foreign Affairs for the Irish Embassiesin Europe, USA, Africa, Asia.
In 2004 he completed six large canvas's for the Irish Ambassador's new residence in Canberra, Australia.
The Irish Air Corps, the Irish Naval Service and the Dept of Defence.
The Crown Prince of Oman, General John de Chastelain, Brian Keenan, Seamus Heaney and many others.

PUBLICATIONS: 

Forty paintings were commissioned for the book " Bray and North Wicklow" published in 2004.
His paintings of the 75th Anniversary of the Irish Navy are included in " A Maritime history of Cork", Smithies of Ireland of the 19th Century" 2008, and many other books.

In 2008 he was chosen, along with 11 other worldwide artists, to represent Ireland in the international CFM ltd. Ed. fine art calendar for 2009.
Many Hotel groups have used his work for their interiors.
He has exhibited in the Royal Hibernian Academy, Eigse Art Festival, Art Ireland, and has participated by invitation in Art In Action Ireland for the past 10 years.
He has shown in solo and many group shows and his work may be seen in galleries thoughout Ireland.

Val has always sought to include in his work a degree of quirkyness and the absurd
" if there is wobbly leaning lampost with straggling wires in the scene, I leave it in "
This is now expressed in his work along with a developing interest in his first love Cubism. Today he is the only Irish artist working with a Cubist approach to Irish images as he sees them.