Finding Home series - Plein Air Landscapes

The artist Kieran Guckian at work painting on location in Lough Dan Wicklow.

Landscape painting on location in Dublin & Wicklow.

Welcome to the 'Finding Home' series of original paintings, all painted plein air on location.

The 'Finding Home' series features locations I strongly associate with, having hiked and walked in these areas all my life.

I hope these locations in Poolbeg, Lough Dan, The Scalp, Glencree and Bray also speak to you and that I have captured something of their spirit.

Painting shows a view of a rugged rockface rising high up in front of a meadow of long grass, its a winters day but bright sunshine on the rockface.

Featured Painting

Lough Dan, Inchavore Valley in Winter

Painted on location in the beautiful area of Lough Dan over a number of sessions in the Winter. Very cold conditions but a beautiful Winter light to capture.

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Painting shows a view of a rugged rockface rising high up in front of a meadow of long grass, its a winters day but bright sunshine on the rockface.

All works in this series

Limited Edition Fine Art prints.

Looking for art prints? This series is available as Limited Edition Giclee Fine Art prints.

The Giclee prints are museum quality, printed on Hahnemühle Photorag paper. With a super matt finish, the paper allows for muted blacks, excellent detail and an even colour reproduction.

Limited Edition prints

Finding Home series locations

A painting on an easel outside in front of industrial chimneys in a waterfront scene in Dublin, the painting is not finished but is in progress.

Landscape Painting Location

Poolbeg, Great South Wall, Dublin

Poolbeg and the Great South Wall area has always captivated me with their sense of history, the bustle of the shipping traffic and especially the wildlife.

At the entrance to Dublin Bay the Great South Wall was completed in the early 19th century. The Poolbeg lighthouse, a subject of fascination for artists over the years, was first established in 1767, making it one of the oldest lighthouses in Ireland. The original lighthouse was a wooden structure and it wasn't until 1820 that the current stone tower was constructed.

The Poolbeg chimneys have been iconic landmarks of Dublin since their construction in the 1960s, now decommissioned, the chimneys are protected structures so will continue to feature strongly in Dublin's skyline.

It's an inspiring place to do some plein air painting and a place I'll continue to visit and work at.

A painting is on an easel on a track through country side with mountains in the background. The painting has been started but is not finished.

Landscape Painting Location

Lough Dan, Wicklow

One of my favourite places in Wicklow, Lough Dan is a ribbon lake, formed from glaciers during the last ice age. It’s a beautiful place and is fed by two rivers, the Cloghoge from Lough Tay and the Inchavore river from the west side. 

I've painted a number of times here, in the valley where the Inchavore river flows through into the lake and on the track beside the Cloghoge river which leads through the Lugalla estate to the lake.

I'm always really inspired by the surrounding valleys and the walks into the lake area. I highly recommend you visit this special place. Even though a lot of the surrounding land is private there are lovely walks in from the south side of the lake and the north side through the Lugalla estate which allows access to walkers. The western side of the lake and valley is part of the Wicklow National Park.

A painting is in progress on an easel in a clearing in a forest of oaks and scots pines at the Scalp in Wicklow

Landscape Painting Location

The Scalp, Dublin

The forest area of Barnaslingan is set on a large rocky hill area known as the Scalp.

The Scalp is a very narrow glacial valley that was formed as ice was pushed through here during the last ice age. The huge granite outcrops are full of massive boulders, many of which have fallen down the steep sides of the valley over time.

The Scalp comes from the Irish 'An Scailp' which means chasm, it's a really interesting place and one of my go to places for plein-air painting sessions.

There are a number of looping walks here around the forest some will lead you to the top where the Scalp is in front of you. The drop goes right down to the road far below that leads to Enniskerry.

A view of the Glenealo Valley, rugged rock strewn slopes with a track winding up the valley to the pass visible.

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The Glendalough series

Ongoing series of work painted on location in Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains National Park. The current series focuses on the areas around the upper lake, including the Spinc, the Miners village, Glenealo valley and the lake shores.

View the Glendalough series