- 26th March 2010.

Descended from two generations of seamen, Leonard Shiel has inherited a great love of 'seagoing'. He is a forager and collector of the present, always searching for materials for his mental archive. Curious on his journey, he goes through every item, collecting, putting in order, to use again, sometimes in the near future, or years later.

These works are evidence of this archive, layer by layer, putting together these items to achieve something entirely new. A series can be made from a single idea into a multitude.

The work constantly shifts between a known position and unknown destination. The mix from abstract land/seascape and graphic figuartion are the results...a surface where you can endlessly lose yourself...

Leonard has worked in a variety of media and multimedia, more recently moving into the areas of video and film. He has exhibited extensively in Ireland and around the world, including Bejing, Vienna, Berlin, Riga and London.

Main Gallery, Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards. Free admission. Tel: 028 9181 0803.