To enquire please contact hello@alyharte.com

A little about the original 

120x150cm acrylic on canvas

The thick blue green turquoise paints, amongst whites, purples and mustards draw you in and each glimpse reveals more detail. The vibrancy of each colour depicting the water, movement and greenery of this familiar North Coast scene.

Price on enquiry.

This piece comes already framed via courier.

If you are interested in any of my original paintings viewings can be arranged by clicking HERE

The inspiration behind the painting

My pièce de résistance!

An impressive show stopper and conversation point on any wall.

‘Mayim’ the Hebrew name for water. 

My ‘Mayim’ exhibition was a virtual exhibition that consisted of a live stream while I sat in formal attire in front of my laptop talking my audience through the various paintings. Lockdown and coronavirus meant that even the artists had to adapt!

The paintings and the exhibition were inspired by my love of water. Water and waves at the beach, water in the lakes and waterfalls in the North and South of Ireland. I trust that you enjoy the brush or palette marks of each scene.

About the location

Castlerock is a seaside village in Northern Ireland and is part of Causeway Coast and Glens district.

Local historical interest is concentrated on the 18th century Bishop of Derry’s ruined palace, the Mussenden Temple on the clifftop, and the Black Glen set within the Downhill Estate, which is now owned by the National Trust. The palace and estate were created by Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol who was the Bishop of Derry in the 1780s. The Mussenden Temple, with its precarious perch on the basalt cliff edge is one of the most photographed scenes in Ireland.

The 17th century Hezlett House is a thatched cottage with a cruck structure and is situated at the crossroads near the village. Built around 1691, it was originally a rectory or farmhouse.

The actor James Nesbitt lived in Castlerock as a teenager.

The village was a holiday destination for the famous author C. S. Lewis. Born in Belfast, he holidayed in Castlerock as a child and took inspiration from Downhill House for some of his books including The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Weighted down by responsibility to her province,

the challenge of rule her nemesis, the young

queen longs to be free to enjoy her age

unencumbered although it is not possible

being born of royalty like her mother

and her mother’s mother.

Wistfully, through a looking glass, she imagines

new horizons of panoramic proportions

far across the sparkling sea melding

into clear blue skies, a life apart,

one of fantasy taking her far

away from encumberment.

Cemented in tradition, a stone’s throw away from

Castlerock her life was sculptured welding

her into a pseudo prison where she felt

restricted from the outside world,

one she wanted to experience.

Trapped, as if behind black iron bars, she longed

to escape, to be free, all for naught, until she

saw the folly; in her developing maturity,

she finally came to an acceptance of

herself as queen of Castlerock.

Credit – Patterson-Mooney

About the artist

Aly is a Northern Irish based Artist, Writer and Educator.  One of Northern Ireland’s top artists, widely known for her Belfast prints and impressionist techniques. She has several accolades to her name, most recently:

> Nominated 40 under 40

> Listed as top 100 / Small Business Saturday

> Finalist in the East Side Awards

Aly works from a studio near Belfast which is conducive to her family life with her husband and their three young boys.

She is passionate about placing importance on everyday moments, objects and places in her oil paintings and pastel work.This is one of the many reasons Aly is a well established artist in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

Her practice is influenced heavily by her own childhood memories of growing up in a smallholding in the Irish countryside.

Themes of the familiar and familial can be traced back as far as her degree show in 2003 when her installation “Daddy’s bread” used 795 empty bread bags (of her father’s favourite loaf) to represent each week from when her Father passed until the opening of her final exhibition.

Aly was awarded a first class honours degree and a distinction in her Masters in Fine Art which she completed following her degree. Specializing in Acrylic, oil and Mixed Media Aly has a love for creating stunning vibrant paintings.  Along with a love of monochrome and simple sketches.

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And don’t forget to check out my BLOG

Here is a place where you can find recipes, information on physical wellbeing, travel and home ideas as well as life ramblings.

I use art in all it’s mediums to express my love for the “everyday”. Coffee cups, familiar landmarks, colour associations. All of these, I believe, contribute to what is known as our “everyday”. Not only do I love drawing them, I think they are worth placing importance on.

This blog is an extension of my creativity.

I convey a realistic (the good, the bad, the funny, the sad) view into the life of a family woman, a homemaker and a business woman on a journey of physical and mental wellness.

Have fun navigating the site and don’t hesitate to send me a note if you want to know more.

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All images are copyright @alyharte     

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