Brian McAvera talks to Charles Tyrrell about the influence of the Beara Peninsula on his work, his approach to abstraction, and the structures and processes that underpin his painting.
Brian McAvera: You moved to the Beara Peninsula in County Cork in 1984, on the side of a ‘spectacular rocky mountain, overlooking the sea’. Living close to Strangford Lough myself, I imagine that the ever-changing colour combinations of the sea, the way in which one can actually observe the weather coming towards one are all elements which feed into your work. So how would you assess the impact of this particular locale upon your work?
Charles Tyrell: I believe my particular environment around Allihies at the end of the Beara Peninsula finds a way into my painting. I often find myself drawn to colours and tones that the landscape throws up in its ever changing manifestations, but it is never too conscious a decision.
