Original - The Ireland Collection - The Bow Carries Fire

'The Bow Carries Fire' is a signed, original acrylic and ink painting on illustration board by Kathryn Callaghan.

This painting was inspired by the rhythmic lift of the Irish fiddle, that bright, driving sound that can turn a crowded pub into one shared pulse. There’s a wild joy in a fiddler’s playing, upbeat jigs and so much raw energy to draw us in and hold us captivated. With The Bow Carries Fire, I wanted to capture that feeling of momentum, where the tune seems to spark under the bow and the whole room starts to move to the same beat.

It’s part of a series of eight Irish musical artists, collectively inspired by the lively and mesmerising traditional music scene found across Ireland’s cosy pubs. The monochrome palette and faceless subject are intentional, leaving space for your imagination to fill in the details: the player’s expression, the stomp of feet on worn floorboards, the friendly nods between musicians as they listen, respond, and lift the set higher. My hope is that this piece becomes a doorway back to your own memories of trad sessions, where the fiddler is often the heartbeat of the gathering.

Kathryn's work is created using a mix of ink and gel. She applies the medium in a freestyle approach, often with no pencil marks as guidelines, which adds a unique sense of life and movement to the subject matter.

This artwork comes in a glazed, black, wooden double frame.

For frame details click the ‘View Frame Details’ link above.

Packaging Details: We go to great lengths to ensure that your purchase arrives in perfect condition. We only use sturdy cardboard postal tubes and double walled cardboard boxes. We use as much recycled and recyclable material as possible, including newspapers from our coffee shop, Coffee Yard, to pack our boxes.

Delivery Details: The framed option is Click & Collect from the gallery due to its size. However, if you would like it delivered, please contact us.