Gerard Dillon

Gerard Dillon was born just off the Falls Road, Belfast, in 1916. He left school at fourteen and worked as a house painter for seven years, mostly in London. Although he was largely self-taught as an artist, he did attend Belfast College of Art fo a short time. He had his first solo exhibition in Dublin in 1942 but was unable to make his living as an artist and shortly after returned to London to work on the demolition gangs. After World War 2, he became more successful as an artist. He died in 1969. His work illustrates The Return Room, a radio play by Irish poet W.R. Rodgers.