This event takes places in The Great Hall, IMMA.

Twelve Paintings (Merrion Press) is an intimate and compelling exploration of the life and work of acclaimed Irish artist Colin Davidson. Structured around a series of deeply personal conversations with the renowned broadcaster Mark Carruthers, the book combines memoir and artistic manifesto, using twelve key works as gateways into broader reflections on art, memory and place. Join us for the official launch of the book where Colin and Mark will be in conversation once again, this time with arts journalist Gemma Tipton.

Please note we may be capturing candid imagery at this event for use on our social media and website.

Colin Davidson is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary artists, internationally known for his large-scale portraits of cultural and political figures including Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Clinton, Seamus Heaney, Edna O’Brien, Ed Sheeran, and Bono. In 2015 he was commissioned by Time magazine to paint the then-German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, for the cover of its annual Person of the Year edition. His acclaimed Silent Testimony series, portraying individuals affected by the conflict in his native Northern Ireland, has been exhibited widely. Davidson also works in sculpture and 3D portraiture, and his recent bust of Senator George Mitchell was unveiled at Queen’s University Belfast in 2023. His work is held in major collections, including the National Portrait Gallery in London, the National Gallery of Ireland, and the Smithsonian.

Mark Carruthers is one of Northern Ireland’s best known and most respected broadcasters. He joined BBC Northern Ireland in 1989 and now presents several well-established political programmes on television and radio, including The View, Sunday Politics and Red Lines. Mark studied political science at Queen’s University Belfast, graduating in 1987. In 1989 he was awarded a Master’s degree in Irish politics. He received an honorary doctorate (DLit) from Queen’s in 2019 and is currently Visiting Professor of Media at Ulster University. Beyond politics, Mark is a passionate advocate of the arts. He served on the board of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast for almost fourteen years – eight of them as chairman – and was a leading figure in the successful campaign to rebuild the theatre.. In 2011 he was awarded an OBE for services to the arts in Northern Ireland. His previous publications include Stepping Stones: The Arts in Ulster 1971–2001 (2001) and Alternative Ulsters: Conversations on Identity (2013).

Gemma Tipton is a writer and critic of contemporary art and culture, writing for The Irish Times. She also contributes to art publications, panel discussions, lectures, radio and television programmes in Ireland and internationally. She has worked as an independent curator of exhibitions, and has been Director of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival and the Kinsale Arts Festival. Other projects include The Poetry Project and Festival in a Van.

To hear first about our future events sign up to our newsletter here.