James and Elizabeth McCreary Collection

DCU Art Collection is honoured to receive a significant donation of fine art prints from artist and master printer James McCreary, one of Ireland’s most respected figures in printmaking, and his wife Elizabeth McCreary (Betty), long-time neighbours of Dublin City University in Drumcondra.

Assembled over more than five decades, this generous gift reflects a lifetime spent working alongside artists, nurturing print practice, and championing Graphic Studio Dublin as a vital space for experimentation and collaboration. The donation represents a major enrichment of DCU’s holdings in Irish modern and contemporary printmaking and strengthens the University’s connection to the artistic life of Dublin’s Northside.

To celebrate this generous donation DCU are hosting an exhibition of selected works from the James and Elizabeth McCreary Collection on DCU St. Patrick's Campus. Featuring works by Jane O’Malley, A.R. Penck, Niall Naessens, James McCreary, Tony O’Malley, Maria Simonds-Gooding, Michael Cullen and others, the exhibition offers a rich insight into contemporary printmaking and the spirit of personal collecting.

Exhibition Opening times: Monday-Friday 9-5pm, 2 February - 20 April 2026
Exhibition Location: Block D, DCU St Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra Road Upper, Dublin 9

About the Donation

The donation comprises over 160 fine art prints in a range of media, including woodcut etching, lithography, mezzotint and mixed print techniques. Spanning the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the works reflect both the artistic breadth and technical excellence of Irish printmaking.

Together, they offer a rich snapshot of evolving approaches to print, material and subject matter across generations of artists, and speak to the collaborative ethos at the heart of creative practice of the Graphic Art Studio.

Why James Collected Prints

James McCreary’s collection grew organically through his working life rather than through formal collecting. He joined Graphic Studio Dublin in 1973 and, alongside fellow artist Mary Farl Powers, established the visiting artist scheme. The following year they were joined by James O’Nolan, whose involvement further energised the initiative and opened the studio to a broader range of visiting artists from across different artforms.

As long-time Studio Manager of Graphic Studio Dublin, James McCreary worked closely with both emerging artists and those at the height of their careers, often printing editions alongside them. For James, collecting was an extension of studio life, a way of valuing collaboration, craft and artistic exchange. Each print carries with it a story of process, conversation and shared endeavour.

Why DCU

James has lived and worked near Griffith Avenue for over fifty years and is deeply rooted in the Northside artistic community.  James was born on the North Circular Road and and his grandmother lived on Lambay Road since 1927 where James now resides.  James went to St Patrick Primary School on St Patrick’s campus (DCU)  in 1949. 

His decision to donate the best part of his collection to DCU reflects a belief in the University as a place where art can live; encountered in everyday settings, seen by fresh eyes, and animated by the constant flow of students across campus. At DCU, these works will support learning across disciplines and continue the dialogue between art, education and public life.

More about James McCreary

Born in Dublin in 1944, James McCreary is a distinguished Irish printmaker whose career spans more than sixty years. James has lived and worked near Griffith Avenue for over fifty years and is deeply rooted in the Northside artistic community. 

He began his working life at Harry Clarke’s stained glass studio (1960–63), before spending over a decade as a steel erector with Smith & Pearson’s structural engineering works. In 1973, he joined Graphic Studio Dublin, studying etching and lithography, and later became Studio Manager in 1980.

James played a central role in shaping Irish printmaking through:

• Establishing the Visiting Artists Programme, alongside Mary Farl Powers.
   
• Serving as Committee Member and later Board Member of Graphic Studio Dublin (1976–2000)
   

Renowned for his mezzotints, James’s own practice often explores themes of nature, memory and environmental loss. His work is held in major public collections including the National Gallery of Ireland, the Chester Beatty Library, the Crawford Art Gallery, Museum of Ulster, Belfast  and the Museum of Modern Art, Cairo. He became a member of Aosdána in 2005. And extensively - awarded several prizes internationally including London Japan Spain Bulgaria and Ireland.  

Artists Represented in the Donation

The donation reflects the extraordinary breadth of James McCreary’s working life and includes works by many of Ireland’s most significant artists, alongside international voices.

Artists represented include:
Alice Hanratty, Alice Maher, Anne Madden, A.R. Penck, Brian Bourke, Brian Maguire, Carmel Benson, Charles Brady, Charles Cullen, Charles Harper, Charles Tyrrell, Ciarán Lennon, Colin Martin, Felim Egan, Ian Sutherland, Jack Coughlan, James Hanley, James McCreary, Jane O’Malley, Jay Murphy, Jennifer Lane, John Behan, John Graham, John Kindness, Jordi Arkö, Kate McDonagh, Kelvin Mann, Kate O’Donoghue, Lars Nyberg, Louis le Brocquy, Louise Leonard, Margaret Becker, Maria Simonds-Gooding, Martin Gale, Mary Farl Powers, Mary Lohan, Michael Byrne, Michael Cullen, Michael Farrell, Mick Mulcahy, Moya Bligh, Niall Naessens, Noelle O’Keeffe, Pamela Leonard, Pat Hanratty, Patrick Hickey, Paul Cox, Paul Muldoon, Pauline Bewick, Philip Murphy, Richard Gorman, Richard Lawlor, Ruth O’Donnell, Stephen Lawlor, Tom Macken, Tony O’Malley, Veronica Bolay, William Crozier. 

Together, these works form a powerful record of collaboration, experimentation and artistic friendship.

A Living Legacy

This donation marks not only the transfer of artworks, but the sharing of a lifetime of knowledge, relationships and belief in the value of print. Through exhibition, teaching and daily encounters across campus, the collection will continue to speak to new generations of students, staff and visitors.

DCU is deeply grateful to James and Betty McCreary for this thoughtful and generous gift.