After graduating in fine art at Bristol University, Heidi Wickham moved to Sligo and initially got involved in aspects of theatre there: writing, set and costume design. She turned to charcoal drawing in 2004, and found a love for the medium as well as for her subjects – animals domestic and wild. Her animal art has since been shown at the Royal Hibernian Academy, the Royal Scottish Academy, the Royal Academy (UK), and the Royal Ulster Academy (RUA). Her awards include the RUA Drawing Prize, the RUA Friel Perpetual Trophy and the Hamilton Gallery Award. She now works in a range of media from a studio she has built at home. heidiwickham.com

Marie Phelan was born in County Galway, has lived in the UK and now lives in County Wexford. She combines photography with painted backgrounds that draw out and enhance the characteristics of her home-grown flowers and plants. She has an Associate distinction from the Irish Photographic Federation, is a member of Wexford Camera Club and exhibits regularly in Wexford, for example during the opera festival and at the Wexford Arts Centre cafe. As an enthusiastic gardener she has her pick of subject material, and with an eye to future images, grows unusual and colourful plant varieties. Her painted backgrounds are achieved using watercolour and mixed media. While a background is ‘oozing and in a state of flux’, she judges the moment to place her flower or plant, and captures it with a macro lens.

Marie Phelan was born in County Galway, has lived in the UK and now lives in County Wexford. She combines photography with painted backgrounds that draw out and enhance the characteristics of her home-grown flowers and plants. She has an Associate distinction from the Irish Photographic Federation, is a member of Wexford Camera Club and exhibits regularly in Wexford, for example during the opera festival and at the Wexford Arts Centre cafe. As an enthusiastic gardener she has her pick of subject material, and with an eye to future images, grows unusual and colourful plant varieties. Her painted backgrounds are achieved using watercolour and mixed media. While a background is ‘oozing and in a state of flux’, she judges the moment to place her flower or plant, and captures it with a macro lens.

Gráinne Cuffe was born in Dublin and lives in Wicklow. She graduated in fine art from IADT Dun Laoghaire, and took a postgraduate degree in etching at Central St Martin’s in London. Gráinne is a member of Graphic Studio Dublin and her etchings are regularly on show in the Graphic Studio Gallery and The Printmakers’ Gallery in Dublin. She has also exhibited at Dublin’s Royal Hibernian Academy and London’s Royal Academy. Her many awards include a Fulbright scholarship to study lithography.