Unveiling
NJ Alphonsus
Saturday 30th August to Saturday 27th September 2025
My aim is to offer a glimpse into someone's life through my paintings. I spend time with my subjects to get a sense of who they are, which helps me capture their energy and essence. From there, I build a narrative, but the story is always open to interpretation—there’s always something more to uncover.
The people I paint are my greatest inspiration. Everyone carries a life full of experiences—love, joy, work, and pain. My role is to reflect a moment from their lives through art.
I approach my work almost like a journalist, focusing on the psychology behind each person’s story. Whether it’s a recurring dream or a hidden passion, I try to tap into something meaningful that they carry within.
Neil-Jack Alphonsus, an Irish artist based in Donegal, was born in County Down and comes from a family of artists. He graduated in Fine Art from the University of Ulster, Belfast, and has exhibited his work in numerous local and international shows. After spending time in Spain, he returned to Ireland in 2018 and began focusing on oil portraiture. His work is centered on telling psychological and emotional stories through painting, often drawing on the inner narratives of his subjects.
Neil was selected to compete on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year in both 2022 and 2024. He is frequently commissioned for portraits and teaches life drawing in Donegal.
Dimensions: 41 × 30 × 2cm
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Year: 2024