Cill Rialaig , magical artist's retreat

 I'm currently working on a collection of paintings inspired by my latest residency at Cill Rialaig, a magical retreat on the Kerry coast where you feel perched on the edge of the world; as from the cottages one looks far out to sea, a mercurial sea that is ever changing in colour and mood and an inspiring, rugged landscape bejewelled with wild flowers and insects. There's an abundance of interesting birds around the retreat both on land and at sea. I was particularly fond of the Choughs who regularly screamed past my cottage like a squadron of planes practicing aerobatics!

 This is one of the paintings I finished recently. I began it en plein air at the beach by the pier at Ballinskelligs, then continued working on it back in my home studio-

Painting-'Pale morning light', the ruined Abbey Ballinskelligs bay

Photo of the retreat (copyright Sarah Corner)

My favourite place to paint was within the shelter of the tumble down walls of one of the unrestored cottages

Painting-Light across the bay, Ballinskelligs

Painting-Kerry coast