The best time to get up at the weekend is?
Lie-ins at the weekend are few and far between in our house. Myself and my wife Evana are both artists and we run an open studio at our Portrush Gallery and Studio each Saturday at this time of year.
Breakfast or brunch?
Breakfast during the week is usually a bowl of muesli and some fruit before rushing off on the school run. A relaxing Sunday brunch before heading out on a coastal walk is a welcome treat. We might cook it ourselves or head out to one of our local cafes on Portstewart promenade or over to the Arcadia in Portrush if we want to avoid the dreaded dishes. Evana and myself are actually going to be artists in residence at the Arcadia on East Strand from June 29 to July 21 where we’ll be showcasing our work and painting in the upstairs gallery – so looking forward to a few more brunches there over the summer.
Artist Adrian Margey with a seascape
What does an ideal Saturday look like?
An ideal Saturday would involve a good day’s painting at the studio and interesting chats with our visitors. After work at this time of year it’s great to get outside. We love to take the dog down to Portstewart strand and have a ramble through the sand dunes with the kids. We all love Italian food, so dinner at Amici Portstewart would round the ideal Saturday off well.
What would your perfect Sunday be like?
An ideal Sunday would involve a trip to Downhill Demesne. The whole family enjoys a good forest walk and exploring the ruins of Downhill House. At this time of year the bluebells are out in force at Downhill forest, which makes for a beautiful spectacle.
Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors?
Most definitely outdoors! As a landscape artist I take great inspiration from the natural environment. Here in NI we are blessed to have such a variety of stunning landscapes within easy reach. From the Mournes to the North Coast, Glens of Antrim and lakes of Fermanagh – I enjoy getting out and experiencing the landscape in all weathers and moods. For the past few years I have celebrated my birthday with a dip at Glenariff waterfall.
Adrian Margey shows some of his artwork at Arcadia, Portrush
How have weekends changed as you have gotten older?
When I was a student I wasn’t a party animal, but I did enjoy the nightlife in Belfast. The Duke of York, Ollie’s and the Bot were my go-to places. I’m at a different stage in life now and with young children I have to confess we rarely get a night out. If we manage a night away in Belfast, we would still gravitate towards Cathedral Quarter. Locally on the North Coast we would head to Neptune & Prawn or Basalt – both have tasty food and a real party atmosphere on the weekend.
If you could eat out anywhere tonight in NI, where would you go and why?
I would keep it local. Me & Mrs Jones is a great boutique hotel in Portstewart with a fantastic restaurant offering really tasty dishes using locally sourced ingredients. There is always a really great atmosphere at the weekend and the staff are very friendly.
At weekends you’ll always make time to…
Get outdoors and enjoy the spectacular North Coast.
Do you sometimes work at weekends?
This bank holiday weekend I’m staging a solo exhibition and sale of my work at the Hilton Hotel Templepatrick. The show runs across Saturday, Sunday and Monday and I will be on hand each day to discuss my work with visitors. I’m really looking forward to it…exhibitions are very sociable occasions, which is nice when, as an artist, you can spend a lot of time working in isolation.
Migration, which Adrian’s children enjoyed
Who would you most like to go for a drink with and why?
Old friends. We all lead such busy lives these days, so it’s good to reconnect and catch up on what’s going on with everyone.
What’s your dream Sunday dinner?
For me a Sunday dinner means roast beef with all the trimmings!
Who do you normally eat Sunday dinner with and where?
We always try to eat Sunday dinner as a family at home.
Too tired to cook – what are you ordering from the takeaway?
A Thai curry.
Heading for the cinema? What film are you going to see?
I’m most likely heading to see a movie with the kids…. Migration was the last film we saw at the cinema and was a big hit with our two.
Staying in… what TV/streaming/catch-up programmes are on the menu?
Psychological thrillers are the order of the day.
Bedtime is?
I try to get to bed before midnight. I’m a big tea drinker, so there will usually be a few cups consumed before bed.
Portrush-based artist Adrian Margey is staging a major exhibition and sale of his work at the Hilton Hotel Templepatrick over the bank holiday weekend, May 25-27. Adrian is best known for his bold and vibrant contemporary depictions of Northern Ireland’s landscape and landmarks but is also winning growing acclaim for his more impressionistic works that use naturalistic colours and hand painting techniques. Admission to the exhibition is free and everyone is welcome. Visit www.adrianmargey.com for more details and to see a preview of the exhibition.
