Written by a visitor to the gallery and inspired by a chance meeting with Liam Jones.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting artist Liam Jones in the Lahinch Art Gallery, where his work is on display. There’s something special about that setting. I was surrounded by the colours, the energy, and the atmosphere that define him. And in Liam’s case, it felt like stepping into the Atlantic itself.
His paintings are unmistakably rooted in Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Sweeping blues, deep sea-greens, endless shifting greys; each canvas feels alive, as if the ocean might suddenly spill out of the frame. Now and then, a sudden streak of gold or yellow cuts through, like the first light of dawn or the last glow of sunset. It’s the Atlantic in all its moods: brooding, generous, ever-changing.
And then there’s Liam himself. If his paintings are soulful and atmospheric, he is quick-witted and mischievous.
I loved the way he talked about the sea, like it was an old friend; sometimes kind, sometimes difficult, but always worth showing up for. “People complain the weather changes every five minutes,” he told me. “But I just love looking at that.”
Walking out of the gallery, I couldn’t help but smile. Meeting Liam was like stepping into one of his canvases; unexpected, full of colour, and alive with energy. His work may capture the moods of the Atlantic, but his humour makes you feel anchored firmly on shore.
As I glanced back at the wall of blues, greens, and greys, I thought, Liam doesn’t just paint the sea; he paints its moods, its tempers, and its fleeting gifts of light.
