Description

Kenneth Donfield, NCAD, SLADE, ASLNY, DPSC, UWS

Kenneth commenced his studies in fine art Painting aged 17 at Dun Laoghaire College of Art, now I.A.D.T. In 1982 aged 19 Kenneth was awarded the prestigious RDS Taylor Scholarship for Painting. This scholarship took him to Florence to study portrait painting under the Master portrait painter Pietro Annigoni. He continued his studies on a post graduate scholarship to the Art students League of New York and also studied figure painting at the Slade School of Fine Art under Euan Uglow.

Kenneth commenced teaching at the NCAD in 1985. He has lectured at NCAD ever since and is a Permanent Lecturer in Drawing and Painting.
His specialist teaching subject matter at the NCAD is the Atelier tradition in Irish and European painting. His teaching specialism is the Portrait from the life, The Human Figure from life and Plein Air painting.

Kenneth has exhibited frequently in the R.H.A. Annual Exhibition since 1985. He has also exhibited in the R.A. London and the R.U.A . Belfast since 1993.
Kenneth has had several solo exhibitions in distinguished galleries in Dublin and abroad since 1985. He has been nominated for election to membership of the R.H.A. in 2011 and 2013. He has also been nominated for election to membership of the R.U.A. in 2006 and 2013.

Kenneth has been commissioned to paint many official prestigious portraits. These include ex Taoiseach Charles. J. Haughey T.D., Dr. Michael Smurfit, Ms. Victoria Smurfit, Mr. Dermot Smurfit., Sir Anthony O’ Reilly, Professor Clive Lee. RCSI, Professor Noel Claffey, Dean TCD., Professor John Turpin. NCAD. HRHA., and Mr Neil Shawcross. RHA, RUA