Colin Harrison exhibited with this gallery since it opened in 1978 having previously shown with our forebear Leo Smith's Dawson Gallery. His work was first seen and admired by Smith and his friend and gallery artist Gerard Dillon at Amanda Douglas' Brown Thomas Gallery in 1969.

Fifteen of the paintings collected here were among those in Colin's studio at the time of his passing in October 2017. Each of these was included on a list headed 'Keep', made by the artist in the previous weeks. The remaining five works belong to his wife Annie, daughter Rachel Harrison and granddaughter Rosie Harrison-Nirawan.

 

Colin's visits to Dublin were rare and brief but we spoke by phone at least once a week and he wrote regularly and perceptively about his own work as well as that of the painters he most admired. In this way we formed a close friendship which endures with Annie and Rachel.

 

Patrick Taylor