Donnacha Quilty was born in 1975 and is a contemporary landscape painter from the west of Ireland. He has a keen interest in wildlife and enjoys adventure kayaking in some of the most spectacular places that Ireland and the world has to offer. He has qualifications in Art and Design, Art and Design Teaching and, most recently, Contemporary Art from various third level institutions. He has also worked as an art teacher since 1998.
Donnacha's work is firmly rooted in an appreciation of the coastal landscape and the ever-changing compositions and qualities of light that such areas present. Investigations through drawing and photography become fully realised in acrylic paint on primed board surfaces in a variety of scales. In seeking to distil and simplify natural stimuli his recent work is showing more abstract, expressive and gestural forms of painting without losing the striking sense of time and place that is intrinsic to his work. He has exhibited his work in several group exhibitions. His paintings and drawings, including many commissions, are proudly held in private collections throughout Ireland and internationally.
Donnacha has also worked extensively as a theatre set designer for musical societies and pantomimes as well as designing stages and installations for numerous charity gala events.
Donnacha now lives in Connemara on the Wild Atlantic Way in Furbo, County Galway where he walks the shore with his wife, Caitríona and two daughters Ornaith and Sadhbh.