Cathedral Studios

Cathedral studios which is located high above Donegall Street is soft, white and mellow. Imagine the quintessential artists studio and this is it. An artist led space which was formed in 2003 and has been home to many artists over the years. Current members are Lisa Ballard, Diana Hadden, John Macormac, Kevin Miller and Tristan Barry.
If you plan on visiting Cathedral Studios, be prepared, there’s a massive flight of stairs before you reach it, but the climb up is definitely worth the effort. On calling in during Belfast Open Studios 2015 I was parched by the time I’d scaled those stairs and extremely thankful for the Suki Tea which welcomed me.
The Artists inhabiting Cathedral are a varied bunch, all working in their own distinctive styles.
Lisa Ballard’s subtle, beautiful landscapes will take your breath away. She was happy to chat about her work which uses spray paint in conjunction with oils. Ballard’s loose, painterly landscapes in soft colours evoke nature in the ever changing light of day. If I had money to buy art my first purchase would be a Lisa Ballard landscape.
I was also intrigued by John Macormac’s geometric white drawings which he’d applied directly to the black walls of his studio. Macormac eloquently explained his art processes and techniques to the public who dropped in. His studio was bedecked with drums and musical equipment revealing his other role as a musician. A multitalented artist.
Go visit Cathedral Studios — you’ll love it. It’s definitely worth the climb up the mammoth flight of stairs. Roll on Belfast Open Studios 2016 — I can’t wait to see what is happening in this space next year.