Irish Examiner
Saturday, November 6th, 2004

Curling's work is a winner

Going like a Winner, one of the equestrian paintings in Peter Curling's Dublin exhibition.

The Tipperary based artist Peter Curling has broken through the saleroom barrier. His work is hotly contested at international Irish art sales and, following his sell-out London show a year ago. An exhibition of his latest work opens in Dublin on Tuesday.

There's the added bonus of location since Curling' s exhibition is showing in a beautiful and famous house at 82 Merrion Square, the former home ofWB Yeats, a perfect backdrop for these paintings, the first major exhibition of his work in Dublin since his 1993 show at Jorgensen Fine Art.

The show, which opens on Tuesday and continues until November 19, will consist of 40 recent works, from large oils to smaller watercolours and drawings. His two major themes are evident here - horses and the Irish landscape.

Since his first Dublin exhibition o at Combridge's ' in 1972, Curling's paintings 6 horses have been hugely popular. He grew up with horses and has ridden and hunted all his life.

His recent London exhibition concentrated on the Irish landscape, painted around his home not far from. Cashel. These paintings showed a strong line and sense of colour, and fascination with light and shade in the ever-changing sky. Earlier this year, a record price was made for his work when an oil of an Irish horse fair made €.60,000 at Christie's art sale in London.

This year, too, an oil of horses on their way to the start of a race made €26,500 at Adams in Dublin. The Lee Gallery on Lavitt's Quay, Cork, currently featuring oils and watercolours, by Thomas Ryan, occasionally shows Curling's work.