'I was always in trouble for doodling, but it paid off. I'm still doodling all day now'....

Renowned caricature artist Niall O'Loughlin has led anything but a conventional life in regards to his career. From drawing Westlife and appearing on ‘The Late Late Show’, to painting CMAT to hang on the wall of her favourite restaurant in Dunboyne, to creating illustrations for newspapers, Niall has turned his talents into his full time job over the last 25 years.

It's not just Irish celebs that are a fan of Niall's work, with his portraits and caricatures going international over the years. Big names such as the likes of ‘Breaking Bad’ actor Dean Norris and Brazilian football legend Pelé have been presented with fantastic caricatures by the artist.

Niall has made quite the name for himself over the years, and now spends a lot of time working at events and doing illustrations at weddings for guests, with everyone in attendance getting to keep a special token from the big day.

Niall has quick illustrations quite literally down to a fine art, completing drawings in as little as three minutes. With AI arriving in recent years and challenging the art industry, it hasn't slowed Niall down, as there is an even bigger demand for having your own specific style and a human touch to artwork.

Niall is originally from The Strawberry Beds, between Lucan and Chapelizod in Co Dublin, but has resided in Dunboyne for the last 30 years with his family. He began his journey with art at Ballyfermot College of Further Education, completing an animation course.

He said: "I was that kid in school that was doodling constantly and wouldn't do much else. I was always in trouble for doodling, but it paid off. I'm still doodling all day now. I was always the arty kid in school."

He went on to work in animation around the world, being involved in projects such as ‘Give Up Yer Aul Sins’, ‘American Tale’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’.

Niall went on to work with Guinness in his 20s doing promotions, travelling around the country drawing in bars. Soon after, he left animation to pursue a new artistic route. He said: "I quit animation when it started to become computerised, as I didn't want to go down the computer route."

"When my wife Helena was pregnant with the first of our four boys, I came home and told her I was quitting my job in animation to do caricatures. That was 25 years ago. The main point to my journey is that there wasn't really a direct route.

I did animations for newspapers, but you move with the times. I built a whole business around drawing at weddings, because back then there was no one doing that. Then I went on The Late Late Show as a live caricature artist and that changed everything for me."

"I've got to paint some really incredible people such as Dean Norris, Shane McGowan, Westlife and Pelé, which was a personal highlight for me. The photo of me and Pelé is the background on my computer. People are always shocked when they see it. It was a real privilege to paint him and present it to him.

He came over to Ireland and he ended up visiting a local football club in Dunboyne. I just managed to make a living out of something I loved doing and built a business where there was none." Niall admits that he didn't have a plan, but he developed his freelance business out of what he is passionate about. Between events and weddings, Niall's diary is kept full, and it's something he's extremely grateful for.

"I thought AI would wipe everything out, but it seems to have had the opposite effect. People are really looking for actual drawings now. I don't like AI, but you have to adapt. AI isn't going anywhere but I do think it should leave the creative sector alone."

Aside from caricatures, Niall has done his fair share of portraits, including for popstar CMAT, who asked to meet the artist when she saw the painting for herself. Making a joke to the manager of La Bucca Restaurant, Dan Griffin, the singer asked about the array of celebrity portraits that are hung on the wall. She jokingly asked when her portrait was going to be up there, and Dan and Niall made it happen.

Now Niall and Helena have four children, Rian, Oran, Illan and Finn, with their dad's interest in art being passed down.

Niall credits his wife Helena for keeping him on the straight and narrow over the years. He said: "If it wasn't for my wife Helena, I don't know where'd I be. She's the boss. She helps me a lot with organisation."

When asked about plans for the future, Niall said that he would love to paint more and that a book of his complete collection work is on the horizon.

"Every time I paint something, it gets such a reaction. When I painted the late Glen Hansard, for example, people loved it. I absolutely love painting, but I find it so hard to find the time to sit down and paint. Between the caricatures and doing illustrations at weddings, it's difficult to get to do my own stuff. I'm constantly on the road with events and weddings around the country. I can't complain, it's great to be busy and I'm very lucky."

"If I were to give anyone advice going into the world of art, and it is the same thing that I tell my kids, there were so many times I sat at my desk just banging my head off it in frustration. You just have to keep trying. Trying to get your foot in the door and trying to get work. It's a real graft and it's still a graft. You're up against serious talent. It's what keeps me motivated."