Liz Baird’s Biography

Elizabeth Baird was born in Newry, Co Down, and studied Art at the Belfast College of Art and Design, graduating with honours and proceeding to take postgraduate qualifications in Education.

Since then she has worked in a number of creative fields, including textile design, creative banner making and designing exclusive ranges of handpainted ladies wear. She is perhaps best known as the Art critic for the Belfast Telegraph, where she has had a weekly column for over twenty years, as well as occasional articles and broadcasts on the Irish contemporary Art scene.

As a printmaker she has exhibited in various group shows, the Royal Ulster Academy and one person shows of her own. Her work is in a number of private collections throughout the world.

Elizabeth works in lithography, lino, silkscreen and collograph techniques but is best known for her mono printing which makes each piece an individual work rather than a limited edition.

She is strongly influenced by colour and form in nature on a grand scale with her most recent work 'Edges' reflecting the sky, mountain and lake lines of Sligo and the West coast of Ireland which she visits often for inspiration. Her training in design can clearly be seen in her bold use of colour and line to weave the narrative tale of each piece and to lead you gently around common but often unseen elements within the of the landscape of the West coast.

Her work reflects the gentle nature of the countryside which is often missed amidst the bold headlands and rugged coastlines of Sligo, Mayo, Connemara and Galway. The beauty of the wild rushes in a peat bog, or the night sky against a small mountain peak attract her attention and are scenes often ignored by the casual observer passing by. Water, an intrigal part of the Irish scene, is not far from her thoughts and can often be seen in her images either as a major element or just a token to its passing effect on these timeless lands.

Recent Exhibitions:

2002 Basement Gallery

2002 Seacourt Print Workshop 25th Anniversary Exhibition

2002 Bass Ireland

2002 Lemon Street Gallery Dublin

2002 James Gallery, Bangor

2002 Cat & The Moon Gallery Sligo

2001 James Gallery, Bangor

2001 Cat & The Moon Gallery

2001 Seacourt Print Workshop Christmas Exhibition

2001 Anvil Gallery

2000 Bay Tree Gallery One person show

2000 Secaort Print Workshop Members Exhibition

2000 Royal Ulster Academy

1999 Royal Ulster Academy

1999 Seacourt Print Workshop Members Exhibition

1998 Bay Tree Gallery Two Person Show

1998 Royal Ulster Academy

Various private collections.