A Limerick family proved that artistic talent can be inherited as artist Mary Meskell's first solo exhibition in the Belltable Art Gallery opened the same week as her son and daughter took part in a separate exhibition of their work in the venue.

Ms Meskell's first solo show 'In Between Places' was launched by former Belltable Artistic Director, Karl Wallace, last week.

But the graduate in Fine Art from the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) had double cause for celebration when she learned that her daughter Mary (15) and son Mike (18) would have their first paintings exhibited publicly at a youth exhibition at the same time.

"Yes, it is a real coincidence, we did not realise that both exhibitions were on at the same time until I went down to hang my works last week," said the artist.

"As children, both Mike and Mary were always interested in painting and they would have seen me doing some small sketches when they were young. We recently found an art sketch book belonging to my grandmother who died at 96—so it must be in the family alright."

Ms Meskell said that while she was always interested in art, she did not go back to study Fine Art as a mature student in the LSAD until 2003 and eventually graduated in 2007.

The main theme of the 30 works in 'In Between Places' is emotional detachment and she took some shots deliberately at twilight because it is neither day nor night but somewhere in between.

"The works seeks to express the mood generated when one feels cut off from an experience, never part of it, but always posited just outside of it in an In Between Place," she added.

Her son, Mike, has one portrait in the Youth Exhibition; he hopes to pursue a career in art and is doing an Art and Design course at the Limerick Senior College.

Her daughter Mary—a Junior Certificate student—is also interested in art and has a painting in the Youth Art exhibition.

'In Between Places' will run in the Belltable Art Gallery from January 16 to February 29.

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