The Bow Carries Fire

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.