James Macintyre RUA
James MacIntyre was born in Coleraine in 1926. He worked as a self-taught artist from 1946 onwards. MacIntyre regularly exhibited at the 55a Gallery, Belfast along with George Campbell and Gerard Dillon. In 1955, he won a travel scholarship and lived in London and Paris for several years working as an illustrator. In 1965, he became an associate of the Royal Ulster Academy, later becoming an academician in 1987.MacIntyre’s solo exhibitions have included the Arts Council Gallery, the Bell Gallery, and the Dublin Painters Gallery. At the 375th anniversary of the Old Bushmills whiskey distillery, he was commissioned to produce more than 60 oil paintings. As a result of this publicity, it was not only his style of painting which became well known, but also his bronze sculptures.
In 1996, MacIntyre wrote the book, ‘Three Men on an Island, based on six weeks he spent with Gerard Dillon and George Campbell on Inishlacken off the Connemara coast. He later wrote another book called ‘Making My Mark’ which was based on his life and art in Belfast.