Margaret Arthur was born in Derry.  She studied at Belfast College of Art (Diploma in Fine Art- painting and etching), Brighton College of Art (Post Graduate Diploma in Printmaking) and Ulster College of Art and Design (Art Teachers’ Diploma). Head of Art Department, St. Columbanus College, Bangor, Co Down. In 1981 she co-founded Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor, Co. Down, of which she was a Director until 2000 and remains as an Honorary Trustee to the Board. Margaret spent a year living and working in Virginia and Washington, D.C., from 1997 to 1998, working at the Lee Arts Centre and had a solo exhibition on Capitol Hill. She was instrumental in organising a Millennium Exchange exhibition with the print studio at the Torpedo Factory, near Washington, D.C. She has also been involved in organising and taking part in several international exchange exhibitions.

Margaret continues printmaking at Seacourt Print Workshop and exhibits regularly in solo and mixed exhibitions in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.

She has passed on her experience in printmaking at all levels of Art Education.

2002    elected Associate of the Royal Ulster Academy (ARUA) and to the council of the Royal Ulster Academy in 2003

2006    elected Academician to R.U.A.

2007    lived and worked in California for six months. Printmaking at Stanford University and Pacific Art League, Palo Alto

Solo/Two Person Exhibitions

2006Recent Works, Yard Gallery, Holywood

2005Landscapes. Island Arts Centre, Lisburn

2002“A Life More Precious Now”, Cambridge Gallery, Derry

2000“The Dream & The Awakening”, original prints and print based mixed media, Harmony Hill Arts Centre, Lisburn (solo exhibition))

Bridge Gallery, Dublin, Recent Prints

1999Genitor (2-Person Exhibition), Ards Art Centre, Newtownards

1999Angels of Morning Light (solo exhibition), The Townhouse Gallery, Belfast

1998A Time to Forgive (Solo Exhibition), Russell Rotunda, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

1996Recent Prints (2-Person Exhibition), Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin

Foyer Exhibition (Solo Exhibition), Roscoff, Belfast

1995Between the Heather & the Sea (Solo Exhibition), Bay Tree Gallery, Holywood, Co. Down

1994Recent Printmaking Images, Cavehill Gallery, Belfast

1991Ulster Arts Club Gallery (2-Person Exhibition), Belfast

1974Queen’s University Festival (Solo Exhibition), Octagon Gallery, Belfast

Juried and Group Exhibitions

2008     Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick

     ‘Technique’, Artzyard, Portaferry

     ‘Small Print, Big Imagination’, The Loft, Portaferry

     Yard Gallery, Holywood

2007     The Basement Gallery, Enniskillen

     126th R.U.A. Exhibition

     Ross’s Auction House, Belfast, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition

     Life Portfolio, International Exchange Exhibitions

2006     7th Triennale Mini Print International, Chamalieres, France

                  Boyle Festival Exhibition

                  125th R.U.A. Anniversary, Co. Roscommon

     The Gallery, Hillsborough Castle, R.U.A.

                  Bridge Gallery, Dublin

                  ‘Print’, Leading Irish Printmakers, Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin

                  Gormley Gallery, Lisburn Road, Belfast, and Gormley Gallery, Omagh

2006/5     Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin, Christmas and Summer Exhibitions

2005          Anna Cheyne Awards Exhibition, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn

                  ‘Twelve Printmakers’, Townhouse Gallery, Belfast

                  5th British International Print Exhibition, travelling throughout Britain

                  International Print Exhibition, University of Monroe, Louisiana and Central School Gallery, Mount Charles

     International Exhibition, Sweden ‘Karborumtrych’, Finland, N. Ireland, Sweden

2004     Balmoral Galleries, Lisburn Road, Belfast

     Signal Business Centre, Bangor, Co. Down

                  Bridge Gallery, Dublin

     Graphic Studio Gallery, Dublin

     Visual Arts Forum Refinery Gallery, Belfast

                 “Black & White”, Seacourt Print Workshop Exhibition, juried by Mickey Donnelly,

    Clotworthy Arts Centre, Antrim and Ards Art Centre, Newtownards

    “In It There Is”, Waterfront Hall, Belfast

2003    6th Triennale International Mini Print Exhibition, Chamalieres, France

2003/4      5th British Miniature Print Exhibition, traveling exhibition, England and Scotland

2003    Original Print Exhibition, The Lodge Studio Gallery, Dundrum   

                 Invited Artist, Cavanacor Gallery, Donegal   

                 Invited Artist, Triennale Mondiale d’estampe – petit format, Chamalieres, France

    RUA 122nd  Annual Exhibition

                 RUA County Down Artists, St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick

    Invited Artist, The Basement Gallery, Enniskillen

    Exhibition of work from Seacourt Print Workshop, Downpatrick Arts Centre

                 Northern Ireland Print Project, Ormeau Baths Gallery, collaboration with painter David Crone

2001    “Progress”, Trace Contemporary Art Gallery, Royal Avenue, Belfast

    “Northern Lights”, Guinness Gallery, Foxrock, Dublin

2001    ‘Really Big Print Show’, Joint exhibition with Belfast Print Workshop, Ormeau Baths

    Gallery, Belfast

    ‘Imprint’ Exchange exhibition with Leinster Print Workshop, Kildare Arts Centre, Kildare and Island Arts Centre, Lisburn

    RUA 120th Annual Exhibition,

                 Chong Qing, International Print Exhibition and Catalogue. The work now is in the permanent collection of Chong Qing

                 Provincial Art Gallery, China

2001    30 Years of the Printmaking Workshop, a touring exhibition of prints from the University of

    Ulster. Presently at Shenzhen Fine Arts Institute, touring China, 2001

    Kerlin Gallery, Belfast, Seacourt Print Workshop juried Exhibition

    Kerlin Gallery, Belfast, Art for Business Show

                 Juried and Group Exhibitions cont’d

2001    ‘Iontas’ 2001, Small Works, Travelling exhibition Sligo Art Gallery, Sligo, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast and Crawford

                 Municipal Art Gallery, Cork

    Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin

2000    R.U.A., 119th Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast

    Festival of Irish Art, Convention Centre, Seattle, Washington State

    Bangor  to Bangor, Bangor Public Library, Bangor, Maine, U.S.A.

2001    Royal Hibernian Academy 170th Annual Exhibition,  RHA Gallery, Dublin

    Millennium Exchange Exhibition, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.A

    Recent Prints by Margaret Arthur, Bridge Gallery, Dublin

1999    Millennium Images Ireland and America, Golden Thread Gallery, Flax International Arts Centre, Belfast.

1999    R.U.A., 118th Annual Exhibition, Ulster Museum, Belfast

    Seacourt Print Workshop, Small Works Exhibition, St. Patrick’s Trian, Armagh;

    Heritage Centre, Bangor; Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford; Flowerfield Arts Centre,

    Portstewart; Juried by Una Walker.

1998    Juried Spring Exhibition, Bangor Heritage Centre; Juried by Alfonso Monreal

    Art League Gallery, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, Virginia

    Lee Arts Centre, Arlington, Virginia

    Double Take, Prints from Seacourt Print Workshop & Cork Printmakers, Engine Room

    Gallery, Belfast; Juried by Diarmuid Delargy

    Artists from Seacourt Print Workshop, Bridge Gallery, Dublin

1997    Ulster-Texas Exchange, Belfast Waterfront Hall, Belfast

1996    Royal Hibernian Academy 166th Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin

    Landscapes, One Oxford Street, Belfast

    Juried Spring Exhibition, Ards Arts Centre; Juried by Ross Wilson

    Cavehill Gallery Summer Show, Belfast

    A Crazy Knot, Arts Council of N.I. Touring Exhibition

1995    Monaghan Open Exhibition, County Museum Gallery, Monaghan

    Royal Hibernian Academy 165th Annual Exhibition, RHA Gallery, Dublin

    Oilean, City Hall, Belfast

    Limerick Small Print Annual Exhibition, Limerick

    Conflicts of Spirit, Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast

    Impressions, Galway Arts Centre

    International Print Biennale, Lorient, France

1994    Ink, Pressure, Paper, Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

    Easter Group Show, Cavehill Gallery, Belfast

    Rive Gauche Gallery, Portadown

1993    11 + 1, Travelling Print Show, selected by Terrence Gravett

    Christmas Exhibition, Cavehill Gallery

1992    Sense of Place, One Oxford Street, Belfast

    Cultural Counterpoint, State University of New York, selected by Arts Council of N.I.

1991    Mini Print International, Arts Council Gallery, Belfast

    Women on Women, Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast

    The Horner Gallery, Magherafelt

    Heritage Library, Derry

1990    Northern Ireland Printmakers, Milltown House Gallery, Lisburn

    Works on Paper Open Exhibition, Old Museum Arts Centre, Belfast

1989    Group Print Show, Kerlin Gallery, Belfast

    Claremorris Open Exhibition

    Tower House Exhibition, Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor

    Arts Festival ‘89, N.W. Artists Association, Derry

1987/88    Art Endeavour, The Otter Gallery, Belfast

    Border Vision, Monaghan County Museum

    Northwest Artists Association, Derry

1986/87    Mini Print Exhibition, Hendricks Gallery, Dublin

    Powerscourt Centre, Graphic Print Studio, Dublin

1986    Group Printers Show, Peacock Gallery, Craigavon & touring Northern Ireland

1985    Irish Printmakers, Kornhaus Gallery, Weingarten, Germany

COLLECTIONS

                        Arts Council of Northern Ireland

                        Northern Bank Collection

                        Hastings Hotels

                        Department of the Environment Northern Ireland

                        Painting in Hospitals - Hospice Scheme

COMMISSIONS

                        Hastings Hotels, editions of original prints

                        Book Cover Images:

                        Beann Shighe (Irish Death Messenger), 1996 by Patricia Lysacht, O’Brien Press, Dublin; Second Edition published in U.S.A.

                        Glrótha an Ghorta (The Great Irish Famine), 1996 by Cathal Porteir, Cois Céim, Dublin

                        Gnéithe an Ghorta , 1995 by Cathal Porteir, Cois Céim, Dublin

                        Remembering the Past, 1998 by Brandon Hamber, Incore U.N. University of Ulster

                        Tonn Crith Intinne (Brainwave), 1992 by Cathal Porteir, Cois Céim, Dublin

                        Eigse an Aeir (Poetry in the Air), 1998 by Cathal Porteir, Cois Céim, Dublin

REVIEWS & PUBLICATIONS

Mar 2002Belfast Telegraph, by Liz Baird

Aug 1998Capitol Hill Ring, Review of A Time to Forgive, by Gwen Landry-Impson

Feb 1996The Irish Times, Margaret Arthur and Jean Duncan, by Brian Fallon

Oct 1994The London Times, Easter Group Show, by Gavin Weston

AWARDS

2002Support for the Individual Artist Award, Arts Council for Northern Ireland

2001Sir James Kilfedder Memorial Bursary, 2001 for a 2-week residency at the Tyrone

Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig

1996Visual Arts Award, Arts Council of Northern Ireland

1995   Artflight Travel Award, Aer Lingus and Arts Council

1993   Express Litho Award for Printmaking, Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

Artist Statement

My work explores relationships, describing the essence of experiences and situations, often symbolically, sometimes through narration.

Through the layering of images, using original printmaking, mixed media and oil on canvas, I build a composition where the physical merges with the spiritual. The inner landscape of our bodies integrates with the outer landscapes of our lives. Microscopic patterns in natural forms and figures are magnified and transformed using delicate papers and transparent glazes with oil paint.

Recent work continues to consider the passage of precious time, changes I family relationships, harmonies and heartbreaks – things that can strike a universal chord.