Original - The Ireland Collection - The Slow Road Home

'The Slow Road Home' is a signed, original acrylic and ink painting on illustration board by Kathryn Callaghan.

This painting was inspired by a simple, unforgettable moment on the road along the peninsula to Dingle… sheep dotted across a quiet country lane on one of those properly bright Irish days where everything feels a little more alive. I loved the contrast of that calm rural scene against the energy of the colour and light, and I wanted to capture the warmth, the humour, and the character you get in those split seconds when you round a bend and the whole view just stops you.

This piece was poured onto an illustration board and built up in layers over time. The first layer began with a black, inky mix poured to create the foundation of the composition, essentially my “drawing”, but without pencils or a traditional sketch underneath. The pouring process is contactless, which means gravity, flow, and a bit of unpredictability become part of the work. I guide the ink where I want it to go, but I also welcome the unexpected marks that bring a sense of life and movement into the piece.

From there, the painting develops through layers of colour introduced by pouring, dripping and splashing with pipettes, then pushing and blowing inks and washes across the surface before they dry. This is where the feeling of that sunny Dingle day comes through, those bright, optimistic colours and soft shifts that make the scene feel warm and full of atmosphere.

As the layers build, so does the signature texture: raised details, varied finishes, and a surface that responds differently depending on how the light hits it. The mix of gloss and matte effects creates an ever-changing look, subtle and quiet from one angle, then suddenly full of depth and shimmer from another… making it a piece that reveals more of itself throughout the day.

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, white, 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.