New exhibition features art by Johnny Boyle inspired by poems of Francis Harvey

The Light on the Stones in the Rain is a fitting title for an exhibition which is deeply rooted in and inspired by the landscape of Donegal.

Renowned Glenties artist Johnny Boyle presents a series of new paintings inspired by the poetry of the late Francis Harvey. The exhibition is set to open in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny on Friday, January 17 at 7pm.

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Both men have drawn from the wildness and beauty of the Bluestack Mountains and south Donegal in their respective art forms. Johnny Boyle has a wonderful eye for capturing the way in which the changing light and colour draws the eye to specific elements. Francis Harvey’s poetry is unflinchingly intimate in its conveyance of the people and place of rural Donegal, in all its weathers and moods, its rawness and its beauty. 

“I first met Frank Harvey as a young boy in my parents’ hotel in Glenties,” said Johnny. “He and his wife Agnes were frequent visitors. 

“Over the years we had many conversations. We both shared a love for the wild landscape of west Donegal; he in his poetry and I in my paintings.

“My first trip to Tory Island was along with Frank. It was a memorable time, and I am now a frequent visitor to the island.”

Collected Poems: Francis Harvey’ published in 2007 has almost 300 poems. 

“I could have selected most of these poems for this project as they are so visually evocative,” said Johnny.

“My choice was very arbitrary although there were certain poems that I really wanted to use. 

“I recall Frank telling me how he could spend several hours, even days, trying to find the right word for a particular poem, so it made me feel very inadequate to then transform his words into space, line, and colour. 

“He often told me he loved the colours and textures of the landscape, especially the rocks and stones. This was foremost in my mind while I was making these paintings.

“As an artist this project has given me an opportunity to do work that is more challenging, it has taken me from my comfort zone. 

“I have read and reread the poems. The images that have emerged in these paintings are the result, albeit some of the paintings have a very tenuous relationship with the poems.

“Francis Harvey left this world in 2014, his poetry will continue to inspire for generations."

A native of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Francis Harvey lived and worked in Donegal for much of his life. Having worked in the Bank of Ireland, he initially wrote short fiction and plays before going on to publish several collections of poetry. He took early retirement from the bank following the publication of his first poetry collection, In the Light on the Stones from Gallery Press.

Johnny Boyle was born in Glenties in 1951, and has been making art from an early age. 

A spokesperson for the Regional Cultural said: “He spent two years at the Dun Laoighaire College of Art in the early 1970s but considers himself mainly self-taught. 

“He started painting professionally in 1988 when he exhibited at The McGill Summer School in Glenties. 

“His paintings are almost exclusively landscapes. He is always trying new ways of expressing his feelings for his surrounding area of West Donegal in various media. 

“His paintings, especially his watercolours, are well regarded and sought after throughout the North of Ireland and in Donegal in particular, and can be found in private collections worldwide.”

Patrons of the Highlands Hotel, formerly owned by the Boyle family, will be familiar with the artist’s work which continues to don the walls of the Glenties hotel.

The Light on the Stones in the Rain runs in the Regional Cultural Centre until Saturday, March 1.