Paul Young
Paul Young graduated from Ulster University in 1995 with a BA (Hons) in Art and Design. He co-founded Cartoon Saloon, an acclaimed animation studio in Kilkenny.
Under his leadership, the studio has earned five Academy Award® and two Golden Globe® nominations, along with BAFTA® and Emmy® wins. Notable films include "The Secret of Kells", "Song of the Sea", "The Breadwinner", and "Wolfwalkers", praised for their unique visual style and storytelling.
Young's work focuses on culturally rich narratives and hand-drawn animation. He also produced the globally broadcast TV series "Puffin Rock".
Irene MacWilliam
Irene MacWilliam is an esteemed textile artist celebrated for innovative and expressive works. Despite not attending art college, she reflects the Belfast School of Art's values.
Her art explores memory, family, society, and nature using intricate techniques and vibrant colours. She has exhibited globally, and her work is in public and private collections, including Ulster, Down County, and Lisburn Museums, and the CAIN Archive.
Notably, her Year Quilts document twenty-seven years of world events. A dedicated educator, she mentors artists worldwide. In 2019, she received the BEM for Services to Textile Art in Northern Ireland.
Stephen McGilloway
Stephen McGilloway graduated from Ulster University in 1999 with a BA (Hons) in Graphic and Product Design. He is the founder of BIGsmall Design, a studio known for innovative, functional designs that enhance everyday life. His portfolio included diverse products, characterised by the seamless integration of form and function, showcased in prominent exhibitions and awarded multiple times.
McGilloway emphasises sustainability and user-centric solutions, often using eco-friendly materials. He contributes to the design community through lectures and workshops, fostering innovation among emerging designers. His leadership has established BIGsmall Design as a key player in contemporary design.
Niamh McCarthy
Niamh McCarthy graduated from Ulster University in 2017 with a BA (Hons) in Textile Art, Design and Fashion and also attained a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in 2018. She is a renowned fashion designer and embroiderer, celebrated for her brand Niamh Designs.
McCarthy's work blends intricate embroidery with a modern aesthetic, inspired by Irish folklore, nature, and heritage. Her collections have been showcased at high-profile fashion shows, earning accolades and awards, including the Future Makers Award from the Design & Crafts Council Ireland.
Committed to sustainability and ethical fashion, McCarthy attracts a devoted clientele and engages in collaborative projects and workshops, sharing her expertise.
Alice Maher
Alice Maher graduated from Ulster University in 1986 with an MA in Fine Art. She is a prominent Irish artist known for her multidisciplinary practice, including drawing, sculpture, photography, and installation. Her work often explores identity, transformation, and the nature-culture intersection.
Maher has exhibited internationally, with notable shows like "Becoming" at the Irish Museum of Modern art and "Natural Artifice" at the Brighton and Hove Museum, and represented Ireland at the São Paulo Biennial. Her art is in major collections, including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Centre Pompidou, and British Museum.
Maher has received numerous awards, including an Honorary Doctorate from the National University of Ireland and the O'Malley Award. She also contributes to academia as a guest lecturer and teacher.
Hugh Mulholland
Hugh Mulholland graduated from Ulster University in 1989 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. Currently engaging contemporary art exhibitions, earning the MAC shortlistings for Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2015 and 2023. Previously, he directed the Third Space Gallery in Belfast and founded the Context Gallery in Derry.
As an independent curator, he commissioned Northern Ireland's first presentation at the Venice Biennale in 2005 and curated exhibitions in Berlin, Istanbul, and Italy. Mulholland's own artistic work and curatorial leadership have significantly shaped Northern Ireland's cultural landscape, earning him several awards.
Oliver Jeffers MBE
Oliver Jeffers graduated from Ulster University in 2001 with a BA (Hons) in Visual Communication. He is a renowned illustrator, artist, and author, famous for children's books like "Lost and Found," "The Incredible Book Eating Boy," and "The Day the Crayons Quit."
His works, translated into over 30 languages, have sold millions worldwide. Jeffers has received numerous awards, including the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books Award, Bologna Ragazzi Award, and a BAFTA for "Lost and Found."
He was awarded an MBE for services to the arts. His fine art has been exhibited globally, exploring themes of identity and the human condition.
