Carmel was born and grew up by the edge of the Atlantic Ocean on the Loophead Peninsula, Co. Clare. She now resides and work out of my studio near Ennis, Co Clare This was a simple and beautiful upbringing, where she climbed the wet slippy rocks, slid down the cliff side and became aware that she was wedged between the beautiful Brandon mountains on the South Side and the Great Galway Bay and Aran Islands (which could only be seen on clear days) to the North. Everything else, including roads only lead east! The air was freshly blown in from the ocean and was crisp and clean, but sometimes the stormy seas were nothing short of scary as they lashed the high cliffs and beached stones and debris and lakes of salt water onto the family's farm.

Studied for an Honours degree in Business at the University of Limerick between 1979 and 1983. Upon graduation, worked in various Multinational Companies including Burlington Industries Ireland and the telecommunications Company Tellabs Ltd before departing in 1994 to set up a Graphic Design Company -Designer Print- serving the Mid West Region. Carmel's final move into the professional art world came in 2000 achieving a lifelong dream.

For the most part, Carmels themes revolve around nature - natural spaces - natural gardens - untouched by human hands - places of seclusion and isolation of peace and solitude. Carmel describes these landscapes as 'vague' 'barren' landscapes - barren alluding in the most part to the lack of 'trees' - this is because no trees survive in the Loophead Peninsula - it is 'open' 'unsheltered' and the great forces of nature take the greater control of it's destiny. Carmel paints a different picture of this scape in Summer, when the area becomes ablaze with vibrant wild flowers such as mombresia, acramony, honeysuckle to mention but a few.

She strives to experiment, to explore, to use materials in a different way than their intended use, to be uncontrolled and insecure, to make suggestions, observations and to be absolutely passionate about the joy of a simple creative mind.

2004 'Fragments and Formations' Solo Mixed media exhibition at De Valera Library, Ennis and The Bridge Mill Gallery, Galway City. May-June
2004 'Tribal Banners' Juried Group Travelling Exhibition between artists from three counties - Clare, Galway and Limerick - July August
2005 Art in the West - Large organized event with national and International artists at Leisureland, Salthill, Galway. June.
2005 Selected to Exhibit at the Greystones Arts Festival, Co. Wicklow. August
2005 'Escape' Solo Exhibition consisting of 38 new works at the Duane Gallery, Loughrea, Co. Galway. Oct.
2005 Killarney Wine and Art Evening - Nov
2005 Feature in 'Upstairs Downstairs' Magazine - Sept-Oct issue
2006 Cork Mental Health Association - Solo Exhibition at Hayfield Manor Hotel - March Donated 30% of sales.
2006 Art Ireland - RDS Dublin - March/April
2006 'Forces of Nature' Exhibition - part of a large exhibition at the Cockleshell Art Gallery, Duncannon, Co. Wexford - May/June
2006 'Grupo Batik Art XXXiii Annual Exhibition' at Sala Barna, Barcelona, by invitation - 12 works exhibited May/June
2006 Selected to Exhibit at Greystones Arts Festival, Greystones, Co. Wicklow. August.
2006 'Symphony Movements from the Edge' Solo Exhibition at Lahinch Art Gallery, Co. Clare consisting of 44 new works. Oct.- Nov.
2006 Art Ireland - RDS Dublin - November
2006 Killarney Wine and Art Evening - Nov.
2007 Art Ireland - RDS Dublin March/April
2007 Cork City Hall - Unveiling 'Emperors New Plans' and 'Chi Landscapes' Series
2007 Radisson SAS Galway City - October 2007
2007 Killarney Wine and Art Eve - Malton Hotel - November

Corporate Clients /Collections 2006/2007
Bank of Ireland - Corporate Art Collection - Dublin
Department of Defence - Dublin
Quality Hotel - Limerick
Ross Hotel - Killarney
Invesco Ltd - Dublin
Celtic Ireland Finance - Limerick
Dromoland Castle - Newmarket -on - Fergus, Co. Clare