Born in Kerry in 1977, Tony O’Connor studied Fine Art at Crawford College of Art & Design where he also gained his Higher Diploma in Art Education. Presently, Tony can be found working at his Cork-based studio, creating ever-evolving pieces of equine art.
Tony is proudly connected with the Irish Horse Welfare Trust, having designed their Christmas cards for the previous three years. He is also currently involved with Redwings Equine Charity in the United Kingdom.
Tony has a disciplined approach in his study of horse anatomy, and puts a great emphasis on technical execution. As with much of his work, the void of background and simplicity of the pieces serve to highlight the natural physical perfection of these animals. Anyone who appreciates classic elegance cannot but be drawn in.
I am a painter working primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas, with horses as the central subject of my practice. Through the interplay of light and shadow, I aim to capture not only what is seen—but what is felt. The essence of a moment, the quiet grace in the curve of a muscle, or the raw power behind a gaze—these are the stories I strive to preserve.
Horses inspire me deeply: their intrinsic tension between gentleness and wildness, their beauty in motion, and their quiet strength. My work seeks to evoke familiarity, drawing viewers into a world where memory, emotion, and form converge. I often focus on the eyes—deliberately inviting a connection between subject and viewer. To me, the eye is the window to the soul, and through it, the painting breathes.
My inspiration is rooted in my personal history. For generations, my family worked alongside horses in our forge. The rhythm of the anvil, the glow of heated iron, the scent of the earth and fire—these sensory memories echo in my work. In my paintings, bright flickers of colour emerge from darkness, as if lit by the sparks of that forge, revealing the spirit of the horse.
My process is grounded in traditional techniques. I value draftsmanship, anatomy, and the foundations of composition. Acrylics allow me to work in layers, building texture and contrast with pace and energy. Oils give me the freedom to blend and refine, to shape the subtleties of expression and form.
Ultimately, I hope my paintings feel like remembered moments—timeless and emotionally resonant. In each piece, I try to reflect the dualities we all carry: light and shadow, seen and unseen, strength and softness. A glimpse of the familiar, told in a language of line, colour, and soul.
