A new retrospective celebrates the life and work of Tim Mudie, bringing together a selection from the remarkable body of work he made across his creative life.
Born in Dublin in 1968, Tim Mudie grew up in a creative household. His father, Ian, is an art director and graphic artist; his mother, Angela, is an academic thinker who encouraged his interest in art, literature, music and poetry. The family later moved to Cheltenham, where Tim spent part of his childhood with his brothers, Spencer and Robin. Tim returned to Dublin in the late 1980s and began his career at Bell Advertising before becoming an art director and creative director at McConnell’s.
In 1990, Tim and his writing partner Laurence Keogh won the ICAD Greenhorn competition for an A|wear advertisement set to Art of Noise’s Moments in Love — a striking statement of intent from the young creative team, bringing together fashion, music, words and a strong visual sensibility.
Tim and Laurence went on to work together for many years. Among their later work at McConnell’s was IDA Ireland’s international Innovation Comes Naturally campaign, with Laurence as copywriter and Tim as art director. Tim’s creativity extended far beyond advertising. Music, fashion, film, art, travel and popular culture were constant influences. He worked across painting, sculpture, papier-mâché, oils, acrylics and pencil, always experimenting with materials and following new ideas.
Tim lived in Portobello from the early 1990s until 2019, when he moved to Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford, with his partner Natasha. There, he devoted himself to making art full time. It was a productive and happy period in his life, and he was a recipient of the Enniscorthy Art Prize. Tim died at home in Enniscorthy on 7 January 2025.
Tim also gave his time to Fighting Words, the creative writing organisation founded by Roddy Doyle and Sean Love. One of his paintings will be sold in aid of the organisation.
Curated by his son, Sean O’Riordan, the retrospective offers a glimpse of the extraordinary body of work Tim left behind.