Bio

Over thirty-five years working within the rigid, and sometimes over-restrictive creative confines of advertising, brought Conrad Jones to discover oils and charcoals; the latter providing a gloriously loose medium in which to sketch, and ultimately find and create something hidden — and very unique.

Conrad began sketching and ‘scamping’ product art concepts in 1981 while working as an intern in Doherty Advertising on Baggot Street in Dublin. By 1983 he had formed his own graphic design company, and now holds the position he’d always wanted — Creative Director of his own firm with a team of professionals at hand. That has allowed him time to recently unearth his predilection for painting. While on holiday on Achill Island, Mayo, Conrad attended a workshop by renowned Irish artist Padraig McCaul, adopted and added to not only his palette but in some pieces Padraig’s approach and use of vivid colour accents to bring scenes to life. His other prime influence is the extraordinary work of Paul Henry, in his masterful understatement in the use of colour and inspiring cloudscapes.

Conrad’s oils of the Achill landscape began with charcoal sketches while investigating scenes on the Island, and during one of those excursions, his view was obscured by a roving flock of sheep that had accumulated closeby ‘pigeon-like,’ offering their curious attention. Conrad’s isolated charcoals of Achill Blackface Mountain Sheep began; those defiant, seemingly angry, and almost always silent inhabitants that comfortably outnumber the 2,500 or so islanders, were to spark an unexpected mutual interest. 

Interestingly, a full lamb is considered to have only two legs — its front ‘legs’ are referred to as shoulders, this is likely what leads some observers to see Conrad’s charcoals as ‘people’ — adding to considerations by some that these Blackface Sheep bear a striking resemblance to the ‘Mummers’ — a vital part of Irish tradition up to the present century. Much like the ‘wren boys,’ and ‘straw boys,’ ‘Mummers’ went from house to house on St. Stephen’s Day, or during the long winter days providing entertainment.

“To mask and to mum kind neighbours will come

With wassails of nut-brown ale,

To drink and carouse to all in the house

As merry as bucks in the dale;

Where cake, bread, and cheese are brought for your fees

To make you the longer stay;

At the fire to warm ‘twill do you no harm,

To drive the cold winter away.”

{Traditional (1625) ~ from “To Drive the Cold Winter Away”

The ‘Mummers’ are led by a captain, and plays are their stock-in-trade. The ‘Captain’ announces their arrival and after a tune, a ‘Mummers Play’ is performed for all assembled. These ‘Mummers Plays’ would have been Ireland’s first ‘theatre.’

Conrad’s palette combines the robust and vivid Cadmium Red, Naples Yellow, and Cerulean Blue; with Sap and Viridian Green, Gold and Yellow Ochre, with Raw and Burnt Sienna anchoring his scenes.