Contemporary abstract artist Rachel McBride has announced the opening of Rachel McBride Gallery in Newtownards Co. Down, creating a new dedicated space for contemporary art in Northern Ireland and establishing a permanent home for her growing body of work.
Known for her vibrant use of colour and richly textured surfaces, Rachel has developed a distinctive visual language that combines movement, depth and emotional resonance. Her work has attracted collectors across Switzerland, France and Australia, contributing to an expanding international profile and growing demand for her distinctive abstract paintings.
The gallery opening marks a significant milestone in her career while introducing an exciting new cultural destination for visitors, collectors and art enthusiasts. The purpose-designed space will showcase original paintings, new collections, commissioned works and a programme of workshops and artist-led events, offering audiences the opportunity to engage directly with contemporary abstract art. Alongside her exhibition practice, she creates bespoke commissions for private and corporate clients, producing site-specific works tailored to individual spaces and collections.
Living with cerebral palsy has informed Rachel’s creative perspective and resilience throughout her artistic journey. Her growing international reputation is built on the originality, technical quality and emotional impact of her work, which continues to resonate with collectors and audiences around the world.
Looking forward to the opening, Rachel McBride said:
“Opening Rachel McBride Gallery is the culmination of years of creative growth and an opportunity to create a permanent space where people can experience my work in its intended setting. As interest in my paintings continues to grow internationally, it felt important to establish a dedicated gallery here in Northern Ireland that not only showcases contemporary abstract art but also creates opportunities for connection, creativity and cultural engagement. I hope visitors leave feeling inspired and able to experience the energy and emotion behind every collection.”
Rachel McBride Gallery is now open on Frances Street Newtownards. For further information, visit the Rachel McBride website www.rachelmcbride.co.uk or follow @iamrachmcbride on Facebook and Instagram.
About Rachel McBride
Rachel McBride is a contemporary abstract artist based in Northern Ireland. Through large-scale paintings that explore colour, texture and emotion, she creates immersive works that invite interpretation and engagement. Her paintings are held in private collections internationally, including in Switzerland, France and Australia. In addition to exhibiting original collections, she undertakes commissioned projects for private and corporate clients. The Rachel McBride Gallery in Newtownards serves as the permanent home of her artistic practice and exhibition programme.
Have you always been a visual artist, or how did you start out?
I started painting around the age of nine, studying subject matter such as landscapes and scenery. Due to problems with hand control, caused by my Cerebral Palsy, I began to paint using my head. I continued to paint with my head until I was studying for exams and realised that I needed much more detail than I was able to achieve my work. Although I had tried using my hands before and had found it frustrating, I persevered and realised that I could get a different kind of detail or texture in my work.
After completing a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, I studied a BDes Degree in Design and Communication at the University of Ulster. While studying at university I began painting again using my hands, this time embracing my involuntary movements by bringing them into my work instead of fighting against them. Working predominantly on large canvases meant I found an abstract style that lent itself to my movements. I could be expressive with paint!
After graduating I concentrated more on Graphic Design, as it was all about detail and precision whereas painting was the polar opposite; for this very reason, I love them both! I worked for 3 years as a Freelance Graphic Designer until a visit to Australia when my love of painting was reignited!
When I arrived back home in 2012 I chose to pursue a full-time career as a Visual Artist. Facing the daunting task of being rejected from every Gallery, as my work was unknown in the Art World, I took a different approach; I began exhibiting at Art Fairs, and within five months I had work being shown in four Galleries and was offered Art Representation with DegreeArt, London in September 2012.
In February 2013, I completed an Art Residency in Hobart, Tasmania. This led to a Solo Exhibition in Melbourne, which allowed my husband and I to relocate to Australia for a year. I was selected for eight Exhibitions and commissioned to create the set design for Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2013. We returned home to Northern Ireland in 2014, and inspired by our travels, opened Haptik – a Coffee Bar & Contemporary Artspace: an inclusive space for Artists, Designers, Creative Makers & Photographers to come together.
