Award-winning artist shares love of nature with St Ultan’s pupils

Staff and students of St Ultan's School in Navan welcomed the renowned artist, Jin Yong, as guest of honour for Arts Week celebrations. Jin's paintings are inspired by nature and he endeavors to raise awareness of the human impact on nature through capturing the beauty of the animal world. St Ultan's has a deep respect for Jin's work as his positive messages and symbols represent the strengths-based ethos of the school which values friendship, family, respect and kindness.

Now 42, Galway-based Yong is an award-winning artist who has been in Ireland since 2002. When he was about five years old, he became interested in art and began taking lessons from a private teacher. He studied for four years in Art and Design in Changchun City, which has a population of seven millions. After moving to Shanghai city, he got his first work experience as a graphic designer and design editor for ‘Good Morning Shanghai’, one of the biggest Korean magazine publishing companies.

Since moving to Ireland he had 17 solo exhibitions in Ireland and a number of group exhibitions. To date, over 900 paintings of his artwork have been collected by individuals and organisations globally.

A Christian, in his view God is the best designer and artist, who created this world full of beauty and colors. Jin Yong looks for inspiration in nature and gets new ideas from modern culture, his main focus is to paint endangered species and raise the awareness of human impact on nature, he also add positive messages and symbols to share his appreciation of family, friends and happiness.

In 2018, he won Chinese Professional Achievement Award by Association of Chinese Professionals in Ireland represented by Yue Xiaoyong, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland.

In November 2019, his work Gorilla 'Purple Rain' was featured on The Late Late Show along with Andy Warhol and Banksy’s work.

Jin spent time sharing inspiration and appraising work completed by the students of St Ultan's. In the true spirit of friendship and kindness, he presented the school with a painting of a giraffe which he created especially for the staff and students.