Padraig "Paddy" MACMIADHACHAIN

I first met Paddy in 1958 when as a student a friend and I started to hitch=hike around English coastal resorts looking for work.We ended up in Swanage and managed to get jobs working in the Pierhead Cafe a very short walk to Studio 7 where Paddy had an open studio/gallery He realised that we came from Belfast and he started to talk to us about artist friends he had left in Belfast,

After work I got into the habit of visiting his studio and when he discovered that I wanted to be an artist he looked at my work and was very encouraging We became great friends over the next two years when I returned to Swanage to work in the Grosvenor Hotel meeting up with him in the studio and also in his house and he kindly allowed me to use his paints in my first real attempts at working in oils

When I returned to Belfast and started working as a teacher we kept in touch by letters and I returned quite often to stay with him and Anna in Swanage We exhibited together in Ireland on numerous occasions and I had my first Two Person Exhibition with him in Studio 7I have his wonderful letters from all his amazing travels.

I owe him a huge debt If I am any kind of artist it is due largely in his encouragement at an early stage in my career I am immensely grateful for that early support I miss his telephone conversations He was always true to himself was generous of his time A really fine artist

Jack Pakenham R,U.A.

I only knew his Art I saw a painting included in an exhibition at Hestercombe , it blew me away , I started painting just a little bit like him

My memories of Paddy are of a dear man, with a clear (and cheeky) philosophy of life. Generous to a fault, we spent many happy hours in his gallery and wee kitchen, chatting about life. I loved the man. His humility and honesty had an immense effect upon me. Decades after leaving Swanage, I can still hear his beautiful voice. And somewhere in my boxes of old video tapes, I have a recording of a conversation with Paddy, c. 1988. I'll try and dig it out and put onto my computer. Get in touch if you're interested. [email protected].

Gerald and I met Paddy and Anna in Las Palmas in 1971 when we were spending the winter months there. They rented an apartment close to the beach. They were both painters. I've enjoyed seeing his paintings online over the years. I fell in love with one painting in particular TWO FISHING BOATS IN HAYLE which I came across in Jenna Burlingam's gallery in Kingsclere close to where we live in Newbury, Berkshire. I was sad to read of his death last March.

Anne and I own 13 of Paddy's paintings, collected from 1968 through 2003...Anne's family had a home in Swanage so we were frequent visitors to UK....Many paintings were purchased sight unseen because we relied on Paddy's knowledge of what we enjoyed and willingness to accept installment payments....I pass by them in the corridor to my bedroom and always admire them several times each day....he was a kind and welcoming host and has enriched our lives immensely

1st October 2017
I met Paddy in the late 1960s when I was working in Studland and was introduced to the whole family by my employer's son.
It was a difficult time in my life and our friendship was incredibly important.
Sasha was still very young, and so was Paddy's stepdaughter Penny. I spent many happy mealtimes with them all, and Paddy and Anna introduced me to Spanish cooking and cammomile tea, late night sessions putting the world to rights and many of their interesting friends including,, I remember, Jack who made lutes! I was known as The Girl in the Shiny Blue Mac as the only coat I possessed was a very mini just that!
We shared a love of teasing, of long cliff walks and poetry,and I was the subject of one or two of his poems. Paddy was much loved by my boyfriend, later husband, with whom he shared some of his wisdom!
In the 1970s, I was able to buy some of Paddy's painting and have seven, including one which he gave me as a wedding present.
Life took me away from Swanage, and to a life that involved mucb travelling, and I was so unlucky to miss Paddy three times when I visited both Swanage and St Ives over the years.
But I have wonderful memories of him, the paintings, poems and a lovely photo to remember him by. He certainly brought colour to my life.

I met Padraig one day when l visited an exhibition in Dorset . He was very kind ,his paintings were too expensive for me but l wanted to look and stay there for a while. My husband and children were impatient and l didn't feel well because my mother had just died, she was an artist. I knew this day was a turning point in my life. Padraig had a spiritual beauty l bought a book of poetry Behind the door? Then he drew a little picture in the front of it of a church on top of a hill. The poetry made me think and l felt comforted. l will never forget that day . Now l make art.