Meet Donna McGee, Artist
Exploring Nature's Timeless Beauty Through Art
Finding Inspiration: A Journey of Self Discovery
Welcome to the world of Donna McGee, a self-taught Irish artist whose creative journey has spanned over two decades in the vibrant city of Dublin. Her artistic style is a result of a diverse range of influences, nurtured by her love for travel and the breath-taking coastlines of Ireland. As a keen observer of nature’s restless elemental forces, Donna’s work revolves around capturing the essence of this timeless beauty and sharing it with you.
Drawing inspiration from stormy skies, dramatic sunsets, and the ever-changing light, Donna’s art unveils the extraordinary within the ordinary. It evokes an emotional and spiritual connection with nature, offering a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Weather permitting, Donna likes to paint outdoors (en plein air) and loves to visit painting festivals in Ireland including Art in the Open and Dublin Plein Air
The Process:
Donna primarily works with oil paint, but she’s currently embracing the joy of encaustics, adding a unique touch to her creations. Her artwork often carries an ethereal feel, which is most evident in her abstract pieces. At times, she incorporates surrealist elements to infuse her subjects with mood and atmosphere, elevating her interpretations beyond mere representation. Through her masterful use of palette knives, she achieves rich, tactile textures that exude dynamic and raw energy.
Where you will find her:
With numerous successful solo exhibitions and active participation in group shows throughout the country and internationally online, Donna’s artwork has gained immense popularity. Notably, she’s had great success at the premier art fair, Art Source. Her paintings have found their way into collections both in Ireland and around the world. The international art community has recognized her talent, resulting in multiple prestigious awards. She was awarded tax exempt status for her work by the Irish State on the basis that her work is of cultural and artistic merit.
She is a member of Visual Arts Ireland
Embracing the Artistic Journey:
A Lifelong Curiosity
Before pursuing her passion as an artist, Donna worked in the financial world and graduated from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (University College Dublin). Her love for learning led her to explore further avenues, and she delved deeper into technology – web design and the ever changing demands of social media to support her art business. She studied Digital Media Production, specializing in Graphic Design at the Digital Skills Academy, and later completed a post-grad in Trinity College Dublin in Creative Thinking, Entrepreneurship & Innovation. These experiences have played a significant role in shaping her unique approach and style in the art business.
Read more:
Awards & Recognition by National Body
Honoured by The All-Ireland Business Foundation
In 2021, Donna achieved the prestigious All-Star Lifestyle Leader Fine Art Accreditation, awarded by The All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF). This independent national accreditation body recognised Donna’s exceptional performance, trustworthiness, and customer-centricity in her art business.
Read more here: blog post
Artist Residencies
A Heart for Education: Nurturing Creativity in Schools
Donna is not only an accomplished artist but also a passionate educator. She actively participates in arts-in-education programmes, such as the BLAST Residency Programme, (bringing live art to students and teachers). This aims to nurture creativity and critical thinking among children and young people. Her involvement in the Teacher-Artist Partnership (TAP) CPD further demonstrates her dedication to enhancing arts in education in Irish primary schools.
These initiatives aim to support the integration of the principles and key skills outlined in the Arts in Education Charter and the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022). It supports children and young people for the future, where skills like the ability to connect and collaborate with others, engage in creative and critical thinking and practice inclusivity at every level, paramount to peace, stability, sustainable economic growth and equality.
