James Nolan RHA

Born in Dublin in 1929, James Nolan studied Fine Art at St Martin’s College of Art in London and at the National College of Art in Dublin under Sean Keating, RHA and Maurice MacGonigal, RHA. His subject matters range from landscape scenes, to figurative and portrait painting, the latter of which he received various commissions for. His work is inspired by nature, particularly Irish beach and river settings, and he has often been associated with the school of plein-air artists.
Nolan taught Fine Art at the National College of Art for a time, but left to pursue painting as a profession in 1977. He was elected a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1975, serving as its keeper between 1978-1988, a member of the Watercolour Society of Ireland in 1974, serving as its President between 1981-1994, was a member of the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland between 1984-1993 and was a Trustee of the National Self-Portrait Collection between 1981-1988.