Carol Graham (artist) facts for kids

Carol Graham is a talented Irish artist. She was born in 1951 and is known for her amazing paintings. She creates art that shows people, places, and everyday objects.

Carol Graham: An Irish Artist

Carol Graham is a well-known artist from Ireland. She was born in the city of Belfast in 1951. Her art is considered "contemporary," which means it's from our modern time.

Early Life and Education

Carol Graham grew up in Northern Ireland. She went to Cambridge House School in Ballymena. After that, she studied art at the Belfast College of Art. She attended college from 1970 to 1975. This is where she learned many skills to become an artist.

Becoming a Portrait Artist

Carol Graham is famous for painting portraits. A portrait is a painting of a person. She has painted many important people. For example, she painted James Galway, a famous flutist. She also painted two former Presidents of Ireland: President Mary Robinson and President Mary McAleese.

In 1976, Carol received a special grant from the Arts Council. This helped her buy equipment for her art. One of her first big jobs was painting a portrait of Gloria Hunniford. Gloria Hunniford is a well-known TV and radio presenter.

Exhibitions and Awards

Carol Graham's artwork has been shown in many places. These shows are called exhibitions. She has had solo exhibitions, meaning only her art was displayed. Some places include The Arts Council Gallery in Belfast and The Guinness Hop Store in Dublin.

She is also a member of The Royal Ulster Academy of Arts. This is a very important group for artists in Ulster. Carol was even the president of this academy from 2003 to 2006. She won Gold medals from the Royal Ulster Academy in 1985 and 1996. These awards show how talented she is.

Her Art Today

Today, Carol Graham continues to create beautiful art. While she is known for portraits, she also paints other things. Her work now includes landscapes, which are paintings of nature. She also paints still lifes, which are pictures of objects like fruit or flowers. Her art continues to be admired by many people.