About & CV

I bought a camera in 1984 and it saved my life.

My work is a creative response to where I live or visit, and is also an exploration of the photographic medium; I’m constantly looking for new ways to express what I see and experience.

My photographs are in the collections of the National Gallery of Ireland, Office of Public Works, Northern Ireland Civil Service at Stormont, Limerick County Council and Offaly County Council as well as many private collections. My book ‘Observing Offaly’ was published in 2016.

Curriculum Vitae

2012  Masters Degree: Art in the Digital World, National College of Art and Design, Dublin

1990  Diploma in Professional Photography, Dublin Institute of Technology

Recent Residencies, Commissions, & Grants

2023      Curator and artist on Still Life, Still Alive project in association with Anam Beo Arts & Health and supported by Offaly County Council

2023      Residency at Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co Monaghan

2019     Arts Grant Creative Ireland Programme

2018    Arts Grant Offaly County Council

2016    Observing Offaly, Percent for Art Commission from Offaly County Council.

2018    Cill Rialaig Artists Residency, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry

2017    Cill Rialaig Artists Residency, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry

2014    Cill Rialaig Artists Residency, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry

2013    Cill Rialaig Artists Residency, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry

2013    Arts Grant, Offaly County Council

2012    A Very Grand Canal, a Percent for Art commission from Offaly County Council

2011    Arts Grant, Offaly County Council

Solo Exhibitions

2024 Observing Offaly: Photographs of Offaly 2012-2024

2019              36 Views of Croghan Hill, Croghan Community Centre; Áras an Chontae, Tullamore; Edenderry Library, Co Offaly

2018              Observing Offaly, Mountmellick Library Gallery, Co Laois

2017              Observing Offaly, Edenderry Library, Birr Library, Daingean Library, Offaly

2016              Observing Offaly, Áras an Chontae, Tullamore, Co Offaly

2014              People Met, Places Been, Edenderry Library, Co Offaly

2002              Nature Morte, Galway Arts Centre, Galway

1997              The Village, Gothenburg Irish Festival, Sweden

1990              A Year in the life of Trinity College, The Atrium, Trinity College, Dublin

Group Exhibitions

2023                      Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival                         

2022                      Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival

• Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, 141st Annual Exhibition

2021                      Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival

• Shoes of Edenderry, Community Arts project for Galway 2020

• Royal Ulster Academy, Belfast, 140th Annual Exhibition

• Luan Gallery, Winter Fair Exhibition

2015                      Foundation 15, Quantum Gallery, Tullamore, Co Offaly

*                            Farside Festival, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

2014                      Unfold, Tallaght, Newry, Belfast and Ennistymon
*                             Group exhibition, Bastion Gallery, Athlone

2013                       Yak Yak, Swanhill Regional Art Gallery, Victoria, Australia

*                              Foundation 13, Tullamore, Co Offaly

*                              Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin. 183rd Annual Exhibition

*                              Eigse, Carlow

*                              A Very Grand Canal, Luan Gallery, Athlone.

2012                       A Very Grand Canal, Tullamore, Co Offaly; Waterways Ireland Visitors                                  Centre, Dublin; Waterways Ireland HQ, Enniskillen.

*                              RDS Student Art Awards, Dublin.

*                              Inspirational Arts Gallery, Dublin, part of PhotoIreland Festival ‘12

*                              Steambox, Dublin

*                              Ormston House, Limerick and The Lab, Dublin.

*                              IMOCA, Dublin

2011                        Daingean Homecoming Festival, Co Offaly

*                               Frances St, Dublin

2010                        Mill Cove Gallery, Castletownbere, Co Cork

2008                        The Courthouse Studios and Gallery, Ennistymon, Co. Clare

2005                        RHA annual exhibition, Dublin. Invited artist.

2004                        RHA annual exhibition, Dublin

2003                       Centre Cultural Irlandais, Paris.

*                              Linenhall, Castlebar; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

*                              RHA annual exhibition, Dublin

2002                       RHA annual exhibition, Dublin

*                              Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool Cathedral, UK

2000                       I space, Chicago, USA

*                              PICAF, Pusan International Contemporary Art Festival, Korea

*                              EV+A, Limerick

*                              Through Each Other’s Eyes, City Hall, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

1999                        Claremorris Open Exhibition, Mayo

1998                        Artspace, Connecticut, USA

*                              Scoip, Tralee, Co Kerry

1997                        Steinfort, Germany

*                              Catalyst Arts Centre, Belfast

*                              Scoip, Tralee, Co Kerry

1996                       Queens Council on the Arts, NY, USA

 Email: vnicholson108@gmail.com