Originally from Omagh, Susan is now currently based in Boyle in the west of Ireland where she is a printmaker and copper enamelist. Susan is influenced by landscape and patterns in nature, her work evolving from observed detail captured by sketching, then laying down the image onto the block or copper surface.

 

"Susan creates intricate thread-like lines and fine textural incisions to create an atmospheric, surreal aesthetic, distilling a sense of place, time and memory." Terry Sweeney, 2015 

 

Susan has exhibited nationally and internationally with her work being held in several public and private collections worldwide. She has been awarded several residencies including The Dock, Cill Rialaig, Valerie Earley Award, Tyrone Guthrie Residency Award and the MI-Lab Mokuhanga six week residency in Japan.

​

Collaborations with musicians, poets and writers have resulted in album covers, book illustrations and covers. Susan has been commissioned to create work public and private commissions and enjoys working with community groups and demonstrating her artistic practice in studio visits.

​

Susan has been a member of the Graphic Studio since 2012 and is a former museum curator for Mayo County and Craigavon Borough Councils and teaching assistant at Queen's University, Belfast. Susan studied archaeology, specialising in medieval architecture of the Cistercian and Friary order of Connacht and she has attained BSc, MSSc and PhD and various certificates and diplomas.

 

​Solo Exhibitions:

2026 March/April, Custom House Gallery, Westport

2025 Losing Cohesion – Looking for beauty in decay, Artlink, Fort Dunree, Ireland

2025 In The Shadow of the Tower, Thoor Ballylee, Ireland

2025 Isthmus, pop-up exhibition, Irish Cultural Centre, Paris

2024 Equinox – Light and Dark Held in Balance, Thoor Ballylee, Ireland

2022 Votives, Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton

2021 Beyond Darkness, Flowerfield Arts Centre, Porstewart

2020/21 Dark Skies, Wild Nephew Ballycroy National Park

2019/20 Fading into another dusk, Roscommon Arts Centre

2019 Dormancy, Northlight Gallery, Orkney

2017 Exploring Surfaces and Interfaces, National Museum, Ireland

2016 Letting in The Light, Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford

2015 A Raid Into Dark Corners, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh

​

International Juried & Invitation Exhibitions:​​

I have exhibited my artwork in over 120 international and Irish exhibitions since 2010.

​

My artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Japan, USA, Italy, India, UK, France, Russia, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Portugal, Poland, Sweden and Canada.

 

Selected Exhibitions:

Graphic Studio, Dublin, included in over twenty group exhibitions 2012-2025

Royal Academy of Arts 247th Summer Exhibition, London, UK 2015

Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, The Masters, Bankside Gallery, London, UK 2015, 2019

Royal Academy of Arts Print Exhibition, Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk, UK 2015

Society of Wood Engravers Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London, UK 2014-2016, 2021-2025

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition, Belfast, UK 2013-2014, 2018, 2019, 2023

Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland 2013, 2015 

Wood Engravers Network Triennial Exhibition, USA 2014-2025

British Society of Enamellers Exhibition, Royal Birmingham Society, UK 2021, 2023-2024

Royal Cambrian Academy Exhibition, UK 2020, 2022

Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, UK 2020

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Annual Exhibition, UK 2018

The Japan Enamel Artists Association Exhibition, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art 2022-2025

The Enamellist Society, University of Arkansas, USA 2019-2023

Boyle Arts Festival - Invited Artists Exhibition, Ireland 2016-2024

Enamel Guild North-East, USA 2020

​​​

Education:

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at West Dean College, England. 2015.

Certificate with Distinction in Creative Textiles and Entrepreneurship, NUI Galway at St. Angela’s College, Sligo. 2011.

Three University Certificates with distinction from The Queen’s University of Belfast. 

Master of Social Science, The Queen’s University of Belfast. 2001.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Queen’s University of Belfast. 1997. 

Bachelor of Science (Hons), The Queen’s University of Belfast. 1992.

​

Training: 

1997-2008

I completed over 70 courses in management, health and safety, strategic planning, marketing, budgeting, curation, risk assessment, design, conservation, working with young people, legislation, creating educational material, policy writing, just to name a few. These courses were provided by the Northern Ireland Museum Council, the IPA and Heritage Councils.

​​

2010-2025

I have completed over thirty courses and masterclasses in enamelling, wood engraving, Japanese Moukhanga, Icon writing,  contemporary printmaking and painting, working with master artists in each medium in Ireland, UK and Japan.

​

Awards:

2025

Residency Award at Centre Culturel Irlandais

Awarded F.E. McWilliams Maurna Crozier Residency Award

2024   

Individual Artists Bursary from Roscommon County Council

Awarded Culture Moves Europe funding

2023   

Awarded Membership of The Society of Wood Engravers

Awarded Full Membership of the Ulster Society of Women Artists

Awarded a residency by the Graphic Studio at Cill Rialaig

Awarded Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award

Awarded funding and exhibition at the Abbeyleix House

2022   

Award for Artistic Work, The Japan Enamelling Artist Association, Tokyo Metropolitan Art 

Museum

The Merrion Plinth Award, The Merrion Hotel, Dublin

Individual Artists Bursary from Roscommon County Council

Shortlisted for the International Watercolour Masters Award

Awarded funding and solo exhibition by Leitrim Sculpture Centre

2021   

Awarded Highly Commended by the International Watercolour Masters

Arts council of Ireland Agility Award

Awarded Individual Artist Bursary by Roscommon County Council

2020    

Arts Council of Ireland Visual Artist Professional Development Award

Individual Artists Bursary from Roscommon County Council

Awarded commission by the Office of Public Works, Mayo Arts Office and Wild Nephin 

National Park

Begin Together Award, Business to Arts, Bank of Ireland

Shortlisted for the Visual Arts Open UK

Business to Arts Award, Ireland

Awarded funding to create a video of my wood engraving art practice for the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for Intangible Cultural Heritage

Creative Ireland Funding for Community Engagement Project, Roscommon County Council

2019    

Roscommon Visual Artist’s Award by Roscommon County Council

2018    

Awarded Highly Commended for my work by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

Individual Artists Bursary from Roscommon County Council

2016    

Artist Bursary awarded by Leitrim Arts Department

Commendation, awarded by Boyle Arts festival

2014-15

Awarded Studio, King House, awarded by Roscommon County Council

Individual Artists Bursary from Roscommon County Council

2013    

Individual Artists Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

Membership of the Graphic Studio Dublin (to the present)

2012    

Commendation, Dock Open Exhibition, Carrick-on-Shannon

Individual Artists Bursary awarded by Roscommon County 

2011    

Individual Artists Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

Awarded first prize at the St. Angela’s College Exhibition

​​​

Residencies:

2024/5

Awarded Print Network Residency Award at Centre Culturel Irlandais

Awarded F.E. McWilliams Maurna Crozier Residency Award

2024    

Awarded a residency in Assisi, Italy

Awarded a residency at SkopArt, Greece

Awarded the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society Residency Award

Awarded John Richardson Residency Award in France

2023    

Awarded a residency in Assisi, Italy

Awarded a residency by the Graphic Studio at Cill Rialaig

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

Awarded a residency, funding and exhibition at the Abbeyleix House

2022    

Awarded a residency and solo exhibition by Leitrim Sculpture Centre

2021    

Awarded a residency with Wild Seas, Dark Skies – Arts-Science Residency, Cornwall, UK

Awarded a residency with Watching The Stars – Arts-Science Residency, Cornwall, UK

Awarded a residency and exhibition at the Leitrim Sculpture Centre

2020    

Awarded a residency with Watching The Sun – Arts-Science Residency, Cornwall, UK

2019    

Residency with AJ Wells, Enamel factory, Isle of Wight

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

2017    

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

2016   

 Awarded a six-week artist residency in Japan (April and May)

2015    

Artist Bursary awarded by Leitrim Arts Department

Valerie Earley Residency Award, Visual Artists Ireland

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

Artist in Residency at the Dock Gallery, Carrick-on-Shannon

Awarded Artist Residency at the Cill Rialaig

2014-15

Artist in Residency, King House, awarded by Roscommon County Council

2013    

Residency at the Cill Rialaig Retreat

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council 

2012    

Tyrone Guthrie Artist Residency Bursary awarded by Roscommon County Council

​​

Curation and Work:

​I trained as an archaeologist specialising in the architecture of medieval churches, particularly the Cistercian and Friary buildings of Connacht. In my career I have been a teaching assistant, archaeological excavator, site supervisor and laboratory technician at Queen’s University Belfast, a guest lecturer, and a museum assistant and a curator at two museums and now I am a full-time artist. I have twenty years curatorial experience of multiple exhibitions across different media and disciplines. 

​

I have given demonstrations of wood engraving and various printmaking techniques and gallery lectures associated with my art practice. I have been employed as a Technical Consultant by the Leitrim Sculpture Centre to teach enamelling and I have been asked by West Dean College in England to teach enamelling. I have been an advisor for the Boyle Arts Festival, managing the coordination, delivery, hanging, promotion of this event for five years with up to 150 artists per year. I have given a presentation of my art practice to the Enamellist Society USA.

​​

Professional Affiliations and Memberships:

Member of the Graphic Studio Dublin

Professional member of Visual Artists Ireland

Member of the Wood Engravers Network

Member of the Society of Wood Engravers

Member of the British Society of Enamellers, UK

Member of the Enamellist Society, USA

Member of the Guild of Enamellers

Full Member of the Ulster Society of Woman Artists

​

 All images and content © Susan Mannion 2025