Jackie is currently in her final year of study for a degree in Art & Design at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. She also facilitates a number of art groups in and around her home town of Ballinasloe.

When it comes to her artwork Jackie has a love of colour and texture and particularly enjoys portraying wildlife, cats and birds. She uses various mediums within her work and loves experimenting with new materials.

The innovative sketchbook project was an ideal opportunity to explore artistic techniques but the theme initially proved to be a difficult task. However, having suffered the sudden and tragic loss of a dear friend of over 30 years, the sketch book project provided a positive, although emotional, opportunity to honour the memory of “Yve” in a way that each she would approved of. It formed a kind of therapy recalling her likes and even dislikes and incorporated her love of wild flowers and the beach. As a stalwart supporter of my artistic endeavours the sketch book provided a fitting tribute to Yve’s encouragement and support over the years and I am grateful to Kildare County Council for the chance to take part in such an great project which will provide a long last memory of a very good friend.