FEW IRISH artists paint sporting subjects and those who do produce decidedly patchy results. But a Polish artist who has settled in Ireland is establishing a reputation for her paintings of hurlers and rugby players. Iwona Nartowska O’Reilly was born in Poland in 1974, graduated from the Stanislaw Wyspianski School for Fine Arts in Jaroslaw, where she drew inspiration “from the paintings and drawings of old masters”.

Now living in Co Carlow with her husband and two daughters, she said: “I was raised in rural Poland where physical prowess was very important and from early childhood I was observing physical labour in the fields and I was always drawn to figures and muscle tone. When I moved to Ireland, I was struck by the profound connection Irish people have with team sports. I have found inspiration from rugby and hurling in particular as aesthetically the body positioning in these games appeals to me greatly.”

The results can be seen in her selling exhibition Ruffians and Gentlemen (it’s unclear which are the hurlers, which the rugby men) which will be opened at the Doorway Gallery in Dublin’s South Frederick Street next Thursday evening by Bernard Jackman, a former professional rugby player for Leinster and Ireland.

The paintings include The Hook which depicts hurling, and is priced at €1,900, while rugby action titled Hanging On is €2,600.