William McKeown

William McKeown
Born	1962 Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Died	2011 Edinburgh
Nationality	English

William McKeown (15 April 1962 – 25 October 2011) was a Northern Irish painter, watercolourist, and draughtsman. His attention to detail of the installation of his work led him occasionally to create rooms or constructions for their display.

McKeown was born to a Presbyterian family in County Tyrone. He was brought up on a farm which remained an inspiration throughout his artistic life. In 1980-81, he studied Art History at the University College, London. In 1984, he graduated in Textile Design at Central School of Art & Design, London. He worked at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, demonstrating weaving techniques. In 1987, he graduated with an MA in Design from Glasgow School of Art. McKeown moved to Dublin in Ireland in 1988; he worked at the Kerlin Gallery until 1991. In 1994, he graduated with a Masters in Fine Art at the University of Ulster in Belfast. The Kerlin Gallery presented his first solo show in 1996. McKeown was board member of Temple Bar Gallery and Studios (2002-2005, at the time he had a studio there) and the Douglas Hyde Gallery (2002-2005). From September 2004, he was in residence in the Old Convent in Lismore for one year. In 2006, he moved to Edinburgh. He died in Edinburgh at the age of 49.

His abstract paintings (initially on canvas, then on linen) went from monochrome to subtle gradations of tone, which became more gestural, pulsating or woven. McKeown's work has connections with certain aspects of minimalist, post-minimalist, post-painterly and conceptual art. He particularly admired the work of Agnes Martin, for instance. He also made small realistic coloured pencil drawings of the wild flowers typical of his home county (primrose, snowdrop, buttercup), always against stark blank paper.

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