Biography

Liam O'Neill

Biography

"Liam O'Neill, Shetland's most northernly professional working artist and designer"

Originally from Lanarkshire, Liam has lived on Unst, Shetland's most northernly island for the past 26 years. A graduate of Gray's School of Art, where he won the Summer Competition in his second year, he paints Shetland as it is - in all it's moods and seasons, capturing the fleeting effects of it's ever-changing light and weather on the land and sea. He paints in oil on canvas and as well as landscapes and seascapes he also accepts portrait, still-life and wildlife commissions. He exhibits locally, (where his paintings of Shetland ponies, the Mirry Dancers (Aurora Borealis), and the atmospheric seascapes are always in great demand), the Scottish Mainland, and last year had a very successful show of his work in Norway.

His paintings are presently in corporate, municipal and private collections worldwide.

He has taught Art & Design at all levels and has been a tutor for the Open College Of The Arts.

He also designs jewellery with a Shetland flair and has designed Viking Jarl-Squad outfits for Lerwick's Up Helly Aa fire festival. His hobbies include Celtic and Viking design and history, carving driftwood and when the time allows, fly-fishing for Shetland trout!