FLORA Mark Fairnington’s virtuoso paintings of natural history, its presentation and representation. Oliver Sears Gallery, 29 Molesworth St Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 11am-5.30pm Until June 9 01-6449459

“The history of painting is a history of the way the world has been seen,” Mark Fairnington said once in an interview. In his own work he draws on the tradition of scientific illustration, mostly making incredibly detailed images of specimens and displays in London’s Natural History Museum. He’s enlarged miniscule subjects to a cinematic scale as well as taking on subjects that are enormous to begin with and, particularly in the last 10 years or so, his work has attracted huge public interest. He originally graduated in sculpture from

St Martin’s School of Art in 1979, then worked as a road sweeper and a caricaturist – for the NME – before eventually completing his MA at Goldsmiths in 1989. Flora, his first solo show in Ireland, features intricate depictions of birds, flowers and insects arranged in elaborate “pictorial fictions” as well as other pieces.

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Drogheda Arts festival: Utopia Ltd

Works exploring links between utopian ideas and commodification, by Blaise Drummond, Brendan Earley, Piland Galia Kollectiv, David Mabb, Lizi Sanchez and Mary-Ruth Walsh (who curated with Mabb). Highlanes Gallery, Laurence St, Drogheda Mon-Sat 10.30am-5pm Until Aug 3 041-9803311

Further Arts Festival information at droghedaartsfestival.ie (see also Mary-Ruth Walsh’s show at the Galway Arts Centre)