Flanagan was born and grew up in Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He studied first under the local artist and teacher Kathleen Bridle, before training at Belfast College of Art. He became best known for his atmospheric water colour paintings of the lakelands of Fermanagh, as well as for his pictures of the more rugged terrain of neighbouring Sligo and Donegal. The long friendship between Flanagan and the well-known Irish poet Seamus Heaney provided mutual inspiration for both men.

This study collection has been selected in consultation with Flanagan’s family to enhance Fermanagh County Museum’s existing holdings by the artist. The collection illustrates his development from his earliest works, such as Crushmore Avenue, Lissadell, executed in 1945 when Flanagan was 16, through his series of paintings inspired by his discussions with Heaney, including Stream Through Sand, and Gortahork, to the important and rare works Flanagan made that relate to The Troubles.

Fermanagh County Museum, based in the artist’s hometown of Enniskillen, currently owns 24 paintings by Flanagan, mostly executed in the 1980s. The addition of this study collection, together with an archive of sketchbooks and other material donated by the family, now provides the museum with the necessary range of work in order to represent this important artist’s career in full.

Provenance

The collection belongs to the artist's family. None of the works within the collection have been previously sold or gifted. Exhibition and literary references have been included in the Full Catalogue (supporting document 2.E)