An Irish Bear was inspired by my first visit to Wild Ireland in Donegal, a wildlife sanctuary where I came face-to-face with some truly remarkable animals.

I immediately fell in love with this magnificent giant. There was something incredibly powerful yet gentle about watching him, and I became fascinated by the thought that bears once roamed freely across the Irish landscape. The Eurasian brown bear was once native to Ireland, disappearing from the island thousands of years ago.

I wanted to capture that sense of ancient Ireland and bring a little of this lost creature back to life on canvas.

I created An Irish Bear using acrylic paint, charcoal and oil paint, building up deep atmospheric layers and textures. I particularly love the way the light falls around his face, creating a softness and warmth that reflects exactly how I felt while standing there, watching this incredible animal.

There is something almost mythical about him, a quiet, powerful presence emerging from the layers of the painting, surrounded by the feeling of the wild Irish landscape.

My visit to Wild Ireland left a lasting impression on me, and I’m already looking forward to returning and discovering many more of the incredible animals that call this place home.