Mallon's Yield

I had long wished to investigate the lost flax fileds of Ireland through a series of paintings.

Flax production had died in Northern Ireland in the sixties due to unsatisfactory health factors and environmental concerns.  None of these elements were environmentally satisfactory to its production at the time. During Lockdown, I googled Irelands forgotten flax fields, and would you believe, a heading came up saying Not So Forgotten Flax Fields.  I logged in to discover that a couple called Charlie Mallon and Helen Keys had between them brought the flax back to Northern Ireland using ecological methods to producing the flax. They were working towards their first harvest and I was boith impressed and inspired. The story for me was also so relevant as within my work I like to focus especially on fields.