Curraghboy artist excited for 2026

A South Roscommon artist is looking forward to the next 12 months and hopes to hold an exhibition of her work.

Curraghboy native and award winning artist, Avril Egan told the Herald she was delighted to recently receive the ‘New Protagonist of Contemporary Art’ award at a ceremony in France for her painting ‘Where Strangers Become Friends’. This award recognises and celebrates authentic and diverse talents from across the globe, across painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art.

The painting features a vibrant and eclectic pub scene, something very familiar to many Irish people and reflects Avril’s own experience in the hospitality industry.

“About two years ago I received the Da Vinci Award in Milan for my painting ‘The Falling and Calling of Our Lady’. It was a painting that I had in the Luan Gallery in Athlone. It was spotted by Italian art critics Salvatore Russo and Francesco Russo,” she said. “More recently I did this pub scene, ‘Where Strangers Become Friends’, and it has every character you could imagine you could run into on the other side of the bar. I worked in hospitality for a good number of years when I was younger. After a chaotic day, it is nice to go somewhere where if they don’t know your name, they soon will. They’d nearly know your herd number by the end,” she said with a laugh.

“The Russos saw the painting and they nominated me for the ‘New Protagonist of Contemporary Art’ award in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. This is a very historic town from an art point of view and famous artist Marc Chagall is buried there.” The last months were very busy for Avril as she bought a house and had a number of commissions to do, so the win was a huge boost, “it has given me the motivation to put the head down and get painting for myself again”.

Last year, Avril was also commissioned to do a painting for Teleflex’s annual Corporate Family & Friends Day, which she was delighted to do for the Athlone based medical manufacturing company.

“I am working with Teleflex an account manager-customer service representative and it was great to marry the two jobs,” she said. “In October I held a pumpkin painting workshop as part of the sports and social night, they always try to find opportunities to show my creative side which I really appreciate.” 

Avril, who studied the performing arts in college, also works with the Dean Crowe Theatre. “I am a jack of all trades,” she said with a laugh. “I did the set for Cry Baby the musical last February, and they invited me back to do the pantomime. It is something I really enjoy.” She also hopes to hold a solo exhibition of her work in the coming months.

“The Luan Gallery is great for supporting artists in the region, as are The Village at Burgess in Athlone,” she said. “I hope to have an exhibition of some kind in Athlone at some time during 2026.” Avril is happy to accept commissions for portraits and landscapes artworks and can be contacted on her Facebook page, Egan Art or on eganart1997@gmail.com.