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Tom Leahy with a small selection of paintings that will be on display in his new exhibition in Fermoy Library throughout August.

Changing jobs mid-career is always a challenging and often a traumatic experience. Coming to grips with new work challenges and learning different life and job skills can be one of life’s great challenges. One local person who has been coming to terms with exactly these challenges is athlete-turned artist, Tom Leahy.

Readers of The Avondhu will be most familiar with Tom from his exploits in the athletics arena and his various medal winning exploits at a succession of Paralympic Games that by career-end had made him one of the most decorated and successful Paralympic athletes this country has ever produced.

But not content to rest on his laurels, Tom now spends the time previously spent training and preparing for major games, on the other great love of his life – painting. To describe his output as prolific would be an understatement. He has thrown himself into his painting, something he previously considered a pleasant past-time and diversion from his sport since his teens, with huge commitment and energy.

The fruits of his recent labours will be on display in Fermoy Library during the month of August in what will be his second solo exhibition in this now well established local gallery.

Since his previous exhibition in Fermoy Library in early 2013, Tom had continued to explore those themes of rural landscapes, flora and fauna that has been such a feature of his work.

“I love the countryside, I love rural landscapes. When I paint a landscape I imagine I’m in that landscape and then I try to express how that makes me feel. Each one is a different experience. This is how I, as a wheelchair user, can experience the countryside as often I cannot physically be there”.

But this new body of work also contains some new departures. At heart, Tom is someone who likes to experiment with the tools of his trade. Being close to the country and close to the land in his home near to the village of Ballyhooly, he has tried to literally incorporate the land in his work. His use of clay, sand, moss heather, bark, even some insects, has sparked new life into his work.

“I am always looking for new things to use. I started with papier maché that allowed my paintings to rise out of the canvas and then I started using materials I found around my house like tree bark and clay. I’ve even used stone and slate.”

Tom has also used different surfaces from his customary canvas and paper and now uses plywood and MDF. Some of the new works are giant pieces of art, another new departure, while others are almost miniatures in scale and size - all part of his continuing evolution as a working artist.

Tom’s exhibition of more than 30 new works will run for the month of August in Fermoy Library.

“I’m very excited about showing this new work. That gives me the biggest thrill – people seeing my work. It’s what makes all the solitary work worthwhile. I love art and I love painting and I like to share that with others as much as I can”.

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