Evening Ballycastle by Frank McKelvey is a painting with a serene quality that reminds the viewer of many evenings spent beside the sea. The two figures in the foreground are looking out at the sea in contemplation. The sea itself is calm and the sky practically cloudless, this picture evokes memories of days spent beside the sea when the sun shone and the living was easy.
Evening Ballycastle by Frank Mckelvey depicts a serene beach scene on the North Antrim Coast, with Fair Head in the background. This painting has a serene quality that reminds the viewer of many evenings spent beside the sea. The two figures in the foreground are looking out at the sea in contemplation. The sea itself is calm and the sky practically cloudless. This picture evokes memories of days spent beside the sea when the sun shone and the living was easy. Irish greeting cards for all occasions.
Frank McKelvey a landscape and portrait painter born in Belfast. Before entering the Belfast School of Art he was a poster designer with David Allen & Sons. You can see McKelvey’s painting mastery in this landscape, Evening Ballycastle.
In addition, early in his career, McKelvey was commissioned by Thomas McGowan to produce pictures of Old Belfast. These pictures are exhibited in 1930 in the Ulster Museum. This gains McKelvey huge recognition. From 1918 to 1973, he exhibits in the Royal Hibernian Academy without missing a year. In 1930 he becomes a full member of the RHA. One of the first Academicians of the Royal Ulster Academy to have dual membership.
In conclusion, S.B Kennedy wrote a book called, ‘Frank McKelvey, RHA RUA, 1993’. Kennedy sums up McKelvey’s style, “In essence, he was a Romantic.” Further, Kennedy says that McKelvey was at the forefront of representing a distinct Irish School of painting.
