THE poetry of Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney has been captured in a series of paintings by Co Derry-born artist Edward Cartin.
Cartin's work forms the basis of a new exhibition at Belfast’s Linen Hall Library which coincides with the second anniversary of the poet’s sudden death on August 30 2013.
As patron of the Linen Hall, Heaney was a tremendous supporter of the library. Events programmer Deborah Douglas said everyone at the Linen Hall felt it was important that the second anniversary of his death should be marked.
"We asked Edward to exhibit his work as we wanted to mark the anniversary in a different way," Ms Douglas said.
She said: "This series of paintings reminds us of the powerful artistic and cultural influence Heaney had – and always will have – in all creative channels".
Originally from Craigbane in Co Derry, Cartin said he used Heaney’s work to inspire his paintings because he felt an affinity with the poet's background.
"I was from a farming background and I went to St Columb's (college in Derry) as well. I had the same English teacher although we weren't contemporaries or anything like that," he said.
The artist worked as a chartered accountant at Queen's University but turned to painting seriously after his retirement. His work focuses on Heaney's most popular works including "Keeping Going", "Digging" and "Anything Can Happen".
"A picture paints a thousand words we are told. In the case of Seamus Heaney, a word says a thousand pictures," he said.
"The early poems of Heaney paint pictures of scenes I experienced in childhood growing up on a farm in Co Derry. I very much appreciate this opportunity to let the public see these images in such a unique and revered public space that is the Linen Hall Library."
Cartin captures many of the most famous figures from Heaney’s work, including blacksmith Barney Devlin (95).
Barney also features in "Door into the Dark" from Heaney’s work "The Forge".
One of the poet’s most poignant poems, "Away at Mass" is reflected in the image of the young Heaney sharing an intimate moment with his mother, peeling potatoes in the simplicity of a farmhouse kitchen.
Heaney's affection for his family is captured in Cartin's painting of Hugh, the poet's brother, as a young boy from "Keeping Going". Heaney wrote fondly of his brother, recalling how he would entertain the family by using an upturned chair to pretend he was playing the bagpipes.
"Diamond Level" is also based on Heaney’s "Keeping Going", the scene of the shooting of an RUC reservist in Bellaghy in 1977.
Admission to the exhibition is free. The paintings will be on display until August 29.
