BAIRDART
Arist profile:
John Baird was born at Drumnahoagh , Letterkenny in August 1948, in the home of his grandparents who resided in gatelodge No. 62 of The County Donegal Railway. His grandfather was a ganger on the permanent way staff of the narrow gauge railway. John,s father and uncle also worked on the railway , and this same uncle also worked as a docker at the local Port Ballyraine discharging cargoes from the many small coastal ships that called there.
Both the Railways and the Port had a tremendous influence on the young John, and he started sketching and drawing these subjects when about 10 years old. Through the years that followed, this self taught artist kept improving his style and he also spent some time at sea , sailing in small coasters which help cement his love for marine subjects. His work became widely known and many of his pen and ink drawings have been published in such well known Shipping Magazines as Ships Monthly , Sea Breezes and the Dutch magazine De Blauwe Wimpel.
Able to also work in oils, the paintings of John Baird have found their way into many private collections at home and abroad especially on the Continent where his Dutch motorcoaster drawings are well known. In the last few years he has held two successful exhibitions in the Cristeph Gallery , Letterkenny showing works depicting buildings and scene of local and historic interest , and the gallery have currently on sale Art prints framed and unframed of his work. He has also published two books , the first about the history of Port Ballyraine , and his latest a history of The Fiesta Ballroom , bothplaces played such a part of his teenage life.
Married to Jane with a son Jonathan, John lives at Drumnahoagh , Letterkenny , on the site of the old CDR narrow gauge railway. Apart from his artwork his hobbies are : soccer, rugby and rallying and he is also very active in keeping the Irish Showband Music scene remembered as this genre of music played a major part of Irish life in the 1960,s.
John hopes you enjoy viewing his work on this website.
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