Flame In The Step

This piece was inspired by the explosive, powerful rhythm of Irish dance, that unmistakable thunder of feet that can make a whole room feel like it’s vibrating. I’ve always been captivated by the contrast at the heart of it: the steady, composed upper body held in perfect control, set against the speed, precision, and sheer energy of the lower body. There’s something extraordinary about that balance, restrained and poised above, then suddenly fierce and unstoppable below. With this painting, my intention was to capture that fiery feeling created by the movement of the feet, the heat and momentum that builds with every beat, and the way a dance can feel like it’s sparking straight up from the floor.

It is 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, where tunes are shared, repeated, and lifted higher by the people gathered around them. The monochrome palette and faceless subject are intentional, leaving space for your imagination to step in: the expression of the dancer, the sharp focus before the first strike, the moment the tempo quickens and the air seems to tighten with anticipation. Rather than pinning it to one specific place or performance, I wanted it to feel like a doorway back to your own memories of trad sessions, where music and movement meet, rhythm takes hold, and for a few minutes everything else falls away.