He's Over Here I'd Say, 2017

John Sheehy’s paintings range between portraits, landscapes and the purely abstract. He creates with a sense of urgency, immersed in the act of making and its therapeutic benefits. ‘Art helps me – it’s crucial, necessary; gets me through the day, gets me through the night,’ he says. ‘It’s a friend to me – a big time friend.’ With reference to both rural Ireland and London street scenes, Sheehy’s works detail seemingly familiar or everyday moments. He frequently returns to subjects which might initially appear folksy: sailing ships, terraced houses, shoe-shiners and chimney sweeps; however, when repeated across numerous works, they gain a talismanic, otherworldly character. This painting on canvas features a large house and tree, alongside a series of figures seemingly floating around the scene. Rather than nostalgic, these works are a record of lived experience.