A talented young Co Fermanagh artist is thriving since taking the decision to start his own business.
Jordan Breen from Enniskillen has gained a reputation for producing high quality portraits and commissions since he started painting full-time at the end of 2022.
Having developed a skill for art during his school days, the 24-year-old says it led him to a degree in graphic design which almost led to him abandoning his passion, but the coronavirus >Covid 19 pandemic rekindled his love for art.
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“My whole life I was always into art, I studied it at school and did quite well,” Jordan told MyFermanagh.
“I went on to university in Liverpool to do graphic design, and ended up losing a bit of love for art at that time.
“With the transition from school to university as well, I took a bit of time to adjust.
“I had lost that love for art for a few years and didn’t think I would ever get back into it really.
“But after lockdown hit in 2020, I moved home for a few months and I started to get back into it.
“I remember after I finished it I thought to myself that I can still do this. I never had any intention of selling my stuff really but then I set up a couple of social media accounts and took it from there."
Some of Jordan’s work has been featured in cafes in Enniskillen and he was recently commissioned to do a painting for former Glentoran captain Marcus Kane’s testimonial season.
Another of his pieces is to be flown to New York later this year as part of a fashion show.
“After I finished university I was working part-time in a pub because I wasn’t really making enough with the painting,” he adds.
“Trying to balance working in a pub and doing the painting was becoming a bit too much, so at the end of 2022 it was gaining a bit more momentum so I quit my job at the pub and went full-time with it.
“It’s really took off properly since then and I’ve been taking on way more bookings.”
Still based in Liverpool, Jordan says he hopes to move back to the Erne county soon and establish himself more in the art scene locally.
“The plan is to move back to Fermanagh in the near future to really focus on it and see where it takes me.
“I get customers from all over the UK really, and get quite a bit from word of mouth just as well.
“I’ve just always been into anything to do with art and creating things. In the future I’d love to sell a lot more of my own work and also maybe getting into the teaching side of things.”
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