Derek Hill
Derek Hill ( 6 December 1916 – 30 July 2000) was an English landscape and portrait artist, who first visited Tory Island in 1956. Derek returned many times over the intervening years, staying in a little hut in Ard Larthain, which was once a coastal signal station.
Glebe House
Derek’s former home and gardens are located close to the village of Churchill, and Glenveagh National Park. They were gifted to the Irish nation, together with a collection of over 1500 pieces of art.
You can travel on a virtual tour of Glebe House HERE A number of the Tory Island artist’s paintings are displayed in the kitchen.
The website also features some of Derek Hill’s vast art collection.
The approach to the hut at Ard Larthain
Derek Hill’s Painting Studio
The artist’s former painting studio is located on the north of Tory island, and is reached via a beautiful path. On my recent visit, I was completely alone at this scenic spot; I could see why he chose it for inspiration.
Some of his best known paintings feature the island, including Tory from Tor Mor, The End of Tory and Toraigh na dTonn…
I sat on this red bench admiring the scenery and feeling incredibly blessed.
Dun Bhaloir associated with the the legend of Balor of the evil Eye Balor na Suile Nimhe can be seen at the furthest and highest corner of the island.
The houses in the distance are located in East Town An Baile Thoir.
The Tory Island Artists
James Dixon (1887 – 1970) was among the first group of painters on the island. He impressed Derek Hill with his original work using household paints and other simple materials.
Inspired by Derek Hill, the group eventually expanded to include James brother Johny Dixon, Jimi Yank Rodgers, Ruari Sarah Rodgers and Patsy Dan Rodgers – the present King of Tory Island.
A second generation of island painters emerged later – Ruari L. Rodgers, Antoin Meenan, Michael F. Rodgers and Padraig Diver.
The website http://www.toryislandpaintings.com includes the work of Ruari L. Rodgers, Antoin Meenan, Patsy Dan Rodgers, Michael F. Rodgers and Padraig Diver plus a new generation of artists Majella Nic Ruaidhri, Daniel M. Cullen, Christina Nic Ruaidhri and Noreen Meenan.
Patsy Dan Rodgers is the only surviving member of the original artists.
Painting by Ruari L. Rodgers
Ruari L. Rodgers
Returning from my visit to Derek Hill’s painting retreat, I caught sight of a “Paintings for Sale” sign in a home beside the harbour.
I stopped to chat to artist Ruari L. Rodgers who later welcomed me inside to view his beautiful collection of paintings – mostly seascapes, including my favourite of wild seas around Tory harbour.
Ruari kindly allowed me to include a photograph of one of his landscapes. You can see more of his paintings on http://www.toryislandpaintings.com
Purchase several Tory Island paintings is now on my wishlist!
If you enjoyed this post you might also like:
The Wild Atlantic Way – Tory Island
Tory Island and Saint Colm Cille
Tory Island Walks -The Legend of Balor of the Evil Eye
Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.
Thanks again for sharing. The landscape is so different from any I’ve seen in America.
xx,
mgh
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Yes. Tory is open to the elements. It is 9 miles or so offshore. I have a post scheduled on the singing in hospices for 1 November. I will put it up on Senior Salon. X
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Goodie!
xx,
mgh
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Wonderful pictures !Thank you
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Thank you Ben. I love taking photographs. 🌼
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You are welcome.I really can feel your passion in every photo !
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What an interesting post! Thank you for introducing us to the Tory Island painters and Derek Hill, as well as his lovely house and garden and all your wonderful links! I loved the blue hall and the kitchen dresser and would love to visit the island one day!
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Thank you. I do hope you get your wish. If you do please pop in to me for tea and cake. 😊
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That is so sweet of you! Thank you! Probably highly unlikely, but you never know what the future holds !!! xxx
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It is so beautiful … your photographs make me want to step inside and breath the air and feel the earth – the fact that the red bench is tied to the rocks speaks volumes!
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Thank you Osyth. Yes the red bench would be far off in the Atlantic were it not for those rocks. I hope all goes brilliantly for you today. 🌼
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Thank you Brigid … so far, so good!! X
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Thank you for sharing the beautiful landscape …
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My pleasure. I have 2 more posts to come on the island. 🌼
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Wow, what a great landscape! You are lucky to be able to relax at such a place! Thanks for sharing and for the wonderful pics!
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My pleasure Stella. I am glad you enjoyed your visit. 😊
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So open to the elements and such a tiny studio. It looks like it could be blown out to sea at any moment. I remember visiting Dylan Thomas’s writing studio in South Wales, it too is a tiny shed on the coast. Wonderful llaces to contemplate and be inspired. Lovely photos as always 😊
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Yes. It is covered in concrete…. The red bench is weighed down with rocks too. I would love to stay in sych a studio to write. 😊
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Thanks for another wonderful tour Brigid! As usual, this was a delightful post, and I really enjoyed taking the tour of Glebe house. You sure do visit some interesting places!
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Thank you Terry. Yes I am really blessed with so many lovely places on my doorstep. I have two more posts on Tory to come.🌼
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Breathtaking, and a joy for the soul. I don’t think I’d ever want to come home.
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Yes Cobs. It would be lovely to stay on and write in Derek Hill’s studio. How are you? X
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Ticking along, Daisies. I’m looking forward (as daft as this might sound) to going back to see my doctor after the blood tests are done next week. I’ll leave it about 10 days for the results to get to him and then I’ll go back and see him.
Till then, I’m going to stay positive, for any other way just leads to misery, and misery isn’t enjoyable one bit. 😉
Sending love to you Daisies. xxx.
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Good on you Cobs. X
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Brigid, lovely post and lovely paintings on the gallery site. Beautiful!
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Thank you Paul. I shall have to return 😊
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What a calm and blissful place to spend some time. Lovely landscape painting. 🙂
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Thank you Marje. It was such a tonic. I would love to stay in Derek Hill’s wee studio and write. 🌼
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These scenes are really lovely, Brigid. Ireland is very beautiful.
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Thank you Robbie. I visited Tory on the only good days we had in September😉
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Enjoyed the tour and wonderful photos, especially the view from the red bench!
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Thank you. The view from the red bench is quite spectacular. I have more great views in 2 weeks time. 🌼
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Thanks for taking us along this virtual tour. I have read about English landscape in the novels, it is a pleasure to watch through your pictures Brigid, they are awesome! 🙂 Have a nice nice weekend.
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Thank you Balroop. I am in Ireland. Will have more lovely views from Tory in 2 weeks. Happy weekend 🌼
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What a beautiful spot to paint (or write), Brigid. I love the remoteness and can see how the muse is inspired to burrow into the essence of things. The Rodgers’ painting is lovely. 🙂
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Thank you Diana. I would love to stay
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In the studio and write. The view is so inspiring. I hope to buy a painting next time. 🌼
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What an interesting post Brigid! Love that you find beauty along the way… xox
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Thank you Rhonda. I felt so blessed to visit the island when it was quiet and the sun was shining. 😊
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You live in such a fascinating place Brigid– so much beauty, nature and history within reach. hugs!
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That red bench is spectacular…I can see why you felt blessed sitting there! Is it weighted down so the winds don’t blow it away? What a very inspirational place, I can see why artists would want to stay there…the landscape is so very inviting and just screaming paint me! Thanks for sharing Brigid…xo
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That bench would be over visiting you Deb if it were not for those big rocks. It is 9 miles out in the Atlantic so next stop the USA. I would love to stay on the island for a while to write. X 😊
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Lol…that’s so funny Brigid. Ohhhh yes can you imagine how inspired your writings would be. You should put that on your bucket list, how marvelous that would be!! xo 🙂
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Wouldn’t it be grand if we all had a red bench to sit on and contemplate life/art/Earth/joy/love while writing and painting and reading and…. sigh. What a wonderful post.
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Thank you so much. Yes I would live to take that red bench and the view home. Such an inspiring spot. 🌼
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Beautiful pictures! This red bench really steals the show. Nice places to contemplate
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Yes ge red bench
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Sorry should read the red bench has such an amazing view. 😊
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Beautiful pictures inspired by the beautiful landscape! x
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Thanks Wendy. I would love to stay a while in Derek Hill’s studio. X
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Oh wow – that would be wonderful.. very peaceful and incredibly inspirational I’m sure.. x
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What a beautiful piece of our planet. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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My pleasure Bernadette. 🌼
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Nice post and beautiful photos! I’m getting the urge to travel yet again, thank you very much! 🙂
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Thank you. Enjoy your journey. 🌼
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Lovely post and painting, Brigid! 🙂
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Thank you Bette. I shall have to return soon. 🌼
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Brigid, what an amazing location to paint, wonderfully remote and inspiring…you can sense the art of creation falling upon one! A fascinating post and as always such beautiful photographs. I hope you get some of those landscape paintings sometime! How lovely to meet the artist and have a chat to him! 😀
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Thank you Annika. It was such a delight to go there when it was both sunny and quiet. Ruari was a real gem. 😊
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So special Brigid! thanks for sharing with us!
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Thank you. It was such a special trip. Tory is so beautiful. 🌼
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It is so unique and some how seems mysterious! I love your photos!
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[…] Colm Cille was born in 521 near Lough Gartan, not far from artist Derek Hill’s home – Glebe House featured in last weeks post Tory Island- Derek Hill and the Island’s Artists […]
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[…] Derek Hill and Tory Island’s Artists […]
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What a special place this is, Brigid. I would sit on that bench, admire the scenery and feel incredibly blessed to! Your photos are lovely, and the painting by Ruari is gorgeous.
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Thank you Cynthia. I shall return and buy a painting…
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[…] Derek Hill and Tory Island’s Artists […]
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[…] Derek Hill and Tory Island’s Artists […]
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[…] Derek Hill and Tory Island’s Artists […]
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Such a great place for solitude!
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Yes. It is a beautiful island 😊
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