PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

1971     B.A. Philosophy and Logic, University College Dublin
1976    Diploma in Social Science, University of Westminster
1976 – 2001   Employed in London Local Authority public service.
1978     Inner London Adult Education woodworking course in Chelsea
1980 – 1987 Evening furniture designing/making courses at the Chelsea College of Art workshops in Hammersmith with Ernest Rodker
1984     Summer School at John Makepeace’s furniture designing/making School in Parnham.
1987- 1989      London College of Furniture Cabinet Making Course.
1989 - 2000   A member of a collective of woodworkers in King’s Cross and Hackney
2001    Returned to live in Ireland and full time professional public service.
2011     Began working full-time with wood.
Registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland( C.C.o.I.)
Became a Member of – The Plato Group, and the Dun Laoghaire Artists Network

Gallery Representation

2014 Hugh joined the group of artists represented in Dublin by the Olivier Cornet Gallery, 5 Cavendish Row (the gallery subsequently moved to 3 Great Denmark Street).

Examples of Additional Professional Experience

2012   Designyard, South Frederick Street, Dublin - 2020.
Festival of Irish Design, Project 51, Dublin, supported by C.C.o.I.
2014   Lavit Gallery, Cork – Present.
National Craft & Design Fair, Royal Dublin Society (R.D.S.).
2015 National Craft & Design Fair, R.D.S.
2016  National Craft & Design Fair, R.D.S.
2017 – Present Wood Symphony, Online International Colllections curated by Larisa Safaryan www.woodsymphony.com

2023 – present O’Connell Gallery, Conakilty.

2023 – 2025 Guest Maker, Craft N.I. Gallery, Belfast

IMPORTANT EXHIBITIONS AND SHOWS

2012  The C.C.o.I. “A Place to Gather” at the London Design Week and the Palais de  Justus Lipsius in Brussels to mark the Irish Presidency of the European Union.

2013 C.C.o.I. Showcase at R.D.S.

2014 Royal Hibernian Academy (R.H.A.) Open Summer Exhibition, Dublin.

Commissioned, with Kathleen Holland, Jeweler, to make a manuscript box in Walnut for the author David Mitchell to be stored until 2114 in the ‘Future Library’ project in Norway

'Flâneries in forests and fields', The Olivier Cornet Gallery. The Office of Public Works (O.P.W.) acquired Hugh’s ‘Platter’ in Yew for the State’s Art Collection.

The Olivier Cornet Gallery group show “A Terrible Beauty” at VUE, National Contemporary Art Fair, R.H.A.,

2015 R.H.A. Open Summer Exhibition.

The Olivier Cornet Gallery summer show - “5 Cavendish Row”.

Sculpture in Context at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin.

The Olivier Cornet Gallery group show "Hopscotch’ at VUE, R.H.A. The O.P.W. acquired Hugh’s ‘Maternal Care' for the State’s Art Collection.

Royal Ulster Academy Open Submission Exhibition, Belfast.

2016 The Olivier Cornet Gallery group show ‘Elevation’ based on work of Charles   Baudelaire. At VUE, R.H.A.

I.A.W.A.T.S.T. (Interesting And Weird At The Same Time). ‘Maternal Care’ was included in this exhibition which was organised by the O.P.W., Northern Ireland Executive and Dublin City Council in collaboration with Central Model Senior School, Dublin 1.

2017 'Explorations in Wood" a solo exhibition hosted by Olivier Cornet Gallery. The   O.P.W. acquired Hugh’s Tall ‘Wings’ vessel in Rosewood for the State’s Art Collection.

  R.D.S. Craft Awards, Dublin.

  'Sculpture in Context' at the National Botanic Gardens.

  'Turned and Sculpted Wood’, Wood Symphony, Online International Collection.

  The Olivier Cornet Gallery group show '2° C' on climate change, with the support   of   the Environmental Protection Agency at VUE, R.H.A.

2018 'Turned and Sculpted Wood’ 2018', Wood Symphony, Online International   Collection .
  ‘s t r i a e’ a two-person exhibition of work with Sheila Naughton at the Olivier   Cornet Gallery.
WOODWORK - "an exhibition devoted to functional and decorative objects in wood and willow" - at Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford.

Featured in “Masters of Contemporary Wood Art” published by Wood Symphony Gallery, U.S.A.

Royal Ulster Academy of Arts Annual Exhibition, Belfast.

The Olivier Cornet Gallery group themed show “Somewhere between perception and reality” at VUE, R.H.A.

2019 Selected for the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland Portfolio Wider Programme.
‘Artist in Craft’ at the Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry.
  'Cycling through the Rages' at the Olivier Corney Gallery - a group     show   curated by Kelly Ratchford & Olivier Cornet.

Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 138th Annual Exhibition at the Ulster Museum, Belfast - 18th October 2019 to 5th January 2020.

Olivier Cornet group show of gallery artists at the Wexford Opera Festival celebrating Massenet’s ‘Don Quichotte’ – October/November

‘The Art of Giving’ 2019, Wood Symphony, Online International Collection.

Featured in “Masters of Contemporary Wood Art”, Volume II, published by Wood Symphony Gallery, U.S.A.

2020  SMALL TREASURES 2020 - An Exhibition of Small Wood Wonders. An   online   Exhibition  at www.woodsymphony.com curated by Larisa Safaryan.
  Artist Network Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown - Online exhibitions based   on the theme   of   the Four Elements - Hugh has work selected for "Air" and " Water" www.artnetdlr.ie
  Interviewed online by Alan Keane as part of his ‘The Artist’s Well’ series   - now   available on YouTube https://youtu.be/9E5t7tG4ypI

Invited to donate work to Imogen Stuart’s Standing Stone Fundraising Online Auction.

Featured in “Masters of Contemporary Wood Art”, Volume III, published by Wood Symphony Gallery, U.S.A.

‘The Art of Giving’ 2020, Wood Symphony, Online International Collection.

“On Paper”, Winter group show at Olivier Cornet Gallery, curated in collaboration with Jackie Ryan.

2021
Pluid Project 2021 A national comfort blanket of original art work at Farmleigh.

Royal Ulster Academy of Arts 140th Annual Exhibition.

'Memento, Looking back, Looking forward', Olivier Cornet  Gallery  Winter group show.

'Made/In Ireland'  "An exhibition to celebrate the skill and vitality of our island's makers".  Presented by Design and Crafts Council Ireland.  Exhibition Team - Mary Gallagher, Hilary Morley, Stephen O'Connell, Aine Gallagher.**  Castle Yard, Kilkenny.


2022-2023
'Emergence' Artnetdlr group exhibition curated by Jay Murphy and Louise Neiland at Walters in Dun Laoghaire

**'Made/In Ireland'  Farmleigh Gallery 7th July - 4th September 2022, and,
                                     F. E McWilliam Gallery 24th September - January 2023

192nd Royal Hibernian Academy Annual Exhibition, Ely Place, Dublin. 

'Convergence' Artnetdlr group exhibition curated by Louise Neiland at Walters in Dun Laoghaire June - Autumn 2022

Sculpture in Context 2022, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. 1st September - 7th October .

Lavit Gallery Winter Exhibition November 2022 - January 2023

2012 - 2022 A decade of exhibitions at the Olivier Cornet Gallery. December 2022 - February 2023

Arbour Essences in Anthropocene Dublin.  A group show at the Olivier Cornet Gallery curated by Paddy Woodworth and Olivier Cornet. May - June 2023

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland - Climate and Health Art Competition - 'highly commended' award.  October 2023

2024 
'Compendium', Winter group show at the Olivier Cornet Gallery

‘Pink is my colour’ Olivier Cornet Gallery 

‘Reaction’ Craft N.I. Craft Month exhibition.