Philip Gray’s passion for art is equalled only by his passion for exploration and discovery. A tranquil day spent painting in his studio is not for him; rather he is a man of action, interacting fully with the natural world that he portrays. His “extreme art”, painted in unexpected and sometimes dangerous locations, has won him a unique reputation as an artist and adventurer; Everest base Camp, 60 feet beneath the surface of shark infested waters, the rainforest of Borneo, deep in the caves and atop the volcanoes of Iceland, his expeditions are legendary, and his innovative artwork has won him a unique position in the international art world.

But wherever he may travel to, it is the South West coast of Ireland that he always returns to, and his peaceful depictions of the shores and harbours of home provide us with the opportunity to escape the chaos of day to day life and appreciate the wonder of the natural world as interpreted by a master of the genre.

Philip says: “I have a great love of the sea, born out of experiencing the joy and freedom of the ocean wave, above and below the surface. I spent 17 years as an Irish navy diver and as I lean over the side of a ship heading towards a new destination, I still feel that the ocean is speaking to me with a thousand words and a thousand visions. I want to visit places where people seldom venture, but also where an artist has never painted. New life challenges provide the impetus for my work and are an essential element of my painting process.”