VAL BYRNE, B. Arch. NUI., FRIAI.
Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1936.
After secondary education Val went on to study Art and Architecture at University College Dublin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.
After a short period working in London he returned to Dublin and set up a practice in partnership with another architect.
Val has painted all of his life and had a major win in a national art competition in Ireland in his teens but with his architectural practice growing his painting became less important to him. By the early 70's the business had grown into one of the larger practices in Dublin and was carrying out major projects throughout Ireland. This led to an expansion of the practice and the opening of offices in Nigeria, Sudan and Libya.
In 1985 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.
In the late 1980's he retired from the profession and set up an Art Gallery in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Soon he was painting on a regular basis until painting became his full time occupation.
Because of his architectural background Val had particular interest in the urban landscapes of Ireland. Much of his work is concerned with recording the townscapes, harbours and boats of Ireland in the 20th and 21st Century. His paintings show the vivid colours typical of Irish towns and villages.
Val is a very popular artist among the diplomats and politically elite through out the world. His work is held in private and corporate collections around the world including;
Mary McAleese, President of Ireland
Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights.
Jean Kennedy Smith, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.
In 2004 he completed a collection of six large canvas for the Irish Ambassadors new residence in Canberra, Australia.
The Irish Air Corps, the Irish Naval Service and the Dept of Defence all have his work hung in their offices. The Crown Prince of Oman, General John de Chastelain, Brian Keenan, Seamus Heaney and many others all have some of his work in their private collections.
