Every year at Easter there’s an exhibition of local art in Ballyferriter, a small village on the wild Atlantic coast, west of Dingle. It has been running since the 1970s and attracts art enthusiasts from all over Ireland.

My partner and several friends are among the 50 or so artists who show their work each year. I decided it was time to join them, so this year I entered two framed felt embroideries.

These are the two pieces I showed – Atlantic Puffins and Moonlit Puffins. There was a slight last-minute panic when I realised I’d got the wrong-sized frames a few days before the deadline for taking our work to the venue, but thanks to a very fast delivery, all turned out well!

An embroidered felt applique showing five puffins among the rocks, surrounded by clumps of sea thrift flowers. The sea and cloudy sky are in the background. Framed in a wide, white wood frame.
An embroidered felt applique showing five puffins looking up at the full moon, surrounded by clumps of sea thrift flowers. Framed in a wide white wooden frame.

It was my first time showing my work in an exhibition, and it was a novel experience to see my embroideries displayed among paintings, photography, sculpture, and other artworks.

Moonlit puffins felt embroidery hanging on a display board with ceramics, paintings and photographs.
Display boards at an art exhibition showing my Atlantic puffins embroidery and some paintings.

The original pieces are now for sale in the local craft guild’s gallery in Dingle, and I’ve also had the images printed as greeting cards, which are available in my online shop.

Photograph of a group of rocks including the Crohy Head sea arch, with a dramatic sky and waves.
Photograph of a dramatic rock arch among a group of rocks, with a misty effect on the sea created by long exposure.

Among the other exhibits were these stunning photographs taken in County Donegal by my partner, George Jackson. You can see more of his work here.