Meet the artist
Meet Michael Carlin
A Belfast artist with an eye for familiar places, a love of painting and more than a wee bit of humour.
A life with painting in it
Born on 29 January 1945, Michael Carlin has spent much of his life observing the changing character of Belfast. He has painted since childhood, even as his working life took him in other directions.
He worked in management, later becoming a tiler and spending 11 years teaching the trade at technical colleges. Through it all, painting remained a source of enjoyment and creative expression.
Finding his own way
In 2009, his first exhibition at Gormley’s Gallery received coverage in The Irish News, introducing a wider audience to his artwork.
Since then, he has developed a distinctive style combining watercolour, ink, architectural detail, expressive skies and playful figures. His subjects are often the streets, buildings and monuments familiar to anyone who knows Belfast.
Four of his paintings are displayed in Belfast City Council offices. He has also recently completed a painting of Belfast City Hall at the council’s request; handover is awaiting confirmation.
“The last one I’ve done
Michael Carlin
is always my favourite.”
From a walk to a painting
A scene.
A photograph.
A little imagination.
Michael often photographs scenes around Belfast and uses those photographs as a starting point. A building, a familiar street or a monument might catch his eye. Back at home, it becomes the beginning of a painting.
The work develops over time, with careful observation making room for loose lines, expressive colour and a sense of humour.
Although his work has found admirers around the world, Michael remains modest about his achievements. He paints because he loves painting. One of his greatest pleasures is finding his artwork hanging in someone’s home, bringing enjoyment or reminding them of a place they love.
The story behind the art ↗