The Wedding Party Exhibition by John Rubery at Cregagh Library

Cregagh Library invites you to a new art exhibition this May – The Wedding Party by John Rubery.

This special exhibition showcases a series of original drawings capturing the joy and detail of a wedding reception, including portraits of the bride and groom and their guests. With warmth and a touch of humour, John Rubery's work invites viewers to relive the magic of a special day through art, offering a fantastic complement to traditional wedding photographs.

The Wedding Party celebrates the marriage of Lucinda Ellis and Thomas Boyd on 24 October 2024 and their reception, held at Castle Leslie, County Monaghan. About half of the drawings in the exhibition were created on the day itself, with the remainder developed from photographs. The artist wishes to thank everyone involved for their patience in sitting for their portraits and extends special thanks to Mr and Mrs Boyd for allowing him to share these works with a wider audience.

The exhibition will be open to the public during normal library opening hours throughout May.

To celebrate, the library is hosting a launch event on Saturday 3 May from 11:00am to 12:30pm, with refreshments provided. This is a great opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy the artwork in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Everyone is welcome!

About the Artist
John Rubery BA MBA graduated in Fine Art from the Belfast College of Art in 1976. A busy career in the public sector, both at home and abroad, business studies, and family life meant that John's passion for drawing took a back seat for many years. It wasn't until 2005 that he resumed life classes at Castlereagh College and Crescent Arts Centre.

Subsequent secondments to the European Commission provided opportunities to study at the 300-year-old Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and to participate in the rich cultural life of the city. Here John began exhibiting his work and sketching café life. Since 2010, his drawings, paintings, ceramics, mixed-media works and sculptures have been exhibited in group and solo shows in Belgium, England and Ireland. These days, when not surrounded by grandchildren, John is often found sketching wherever people gather for a bit of craic.

For more information, contact Cregagh Library on 028 9040 1365 or email cregagh.library@librariesni.org.uk.