I get this question a lot. I’m working on developing online classes and I’m eager to share my solvent-free approach. Stay tuned for updates
Plein air painting means painting outdoors directly from life, capturing natural light and atmosphere in real time. You can see some of my plein air work here.
With a name like Hayes, it’s hazy by nature! It’s just part of my style of capturing light and atmosphere.
I lived in America for 20 years, and returning to Ireland gave me a new appreciation of what makes it special. Capturing Ireland’s beauty through my paintings is my way of sharing that experience.
I started painting later in life and I’m mostly self-taught with the occasional worksop. I learned through personal practice and exploring various resources over time.
I have strong family ties there and visit often. I spent a full year painting in Castlegregory during the pandemic. It’s where I truly learned to paint and fell in love with plein air. More about that here
Sometimes! I don’t accept every request, as it depends on the project and my schedule. Feel free to reach out and we can chat about it. More here
You can read about the process and view recent examples on my Portrait Commissions page.
Portrait commissions start at €800.
As an example, a 14×18 inch painting featuring a single figure is approximately €1,000.
Multi-figure and family portraits begin at €1,500, with final pricing depending on the composition and reference photos.
Yes — most portraits are created from carefully chosen photographs, and I’m happy to guide you on selecting or taking reference images that work well for an oil painting. I also paint from life and plein air, as part of my practice, but for portraits a good photograph is usually the best starting point.
Most portraits take 4–6 weeks, depending on size, detail, and my current schedule.
If you have a specific deadline, feel free to get in touch — I can let you know if it’s possible.
Yes — I paint children’s portraits and family portraits in oils.
These are quoted individually based on the number of people and the complexity of the composition.
I have currently chosen to work independently rather than through formal gallery representation. I genuinely enjoy meeting my collectors and chatting about the work directly — it keeps the experience personal in a way I really value. I take part in exhibitions around Ireland when the opportunity suits.
Yes, many of my paintings are available as prints, and I also have greeting cards. If you don’t see a piece on the print or card page, just let me know.
It varies! A plein air piece might take a few hours outdoors, studio pieces typically take a lot longer.