Artist's Bio Manson Blair Manson Blair’s Biography Born near Ballyclare, County Antrim in 1947. From early school days Manson always had an interest in art and drawing. After attending Stranmillis College from 1965-68, he took up a teaching career in Larne, moving later to Carrickfergus and in 2004 retired from teaching after 26 years in Ballyclare Primary School. He also teaches an adult class in oils, acrylics and watercolour painting at the Northern Regional College Newtownabbey and has done so since 1980. Blair also provides demonstrations and workshops for various art clubs and societies. He began to paint seriously in the early seventies and displayed a liking for the traditional Irish Landscape, particularly the rugged mountain, coast and lake views of the West of Ireland, and many parts of the Antrim Coast. He has long admired the work of past Irish Landscapists such as JH Craig, Frank McKelvey, Paul Henry and Maurice C Wilks. For his subject material he travels widely in Mayo, Galway and Donegal. The inspiration for much of his work is found in such areas as Mayo Galway and Dongall.