The Fighting Sangars were made in response to the now disused and decommissioned Bessbrook Army Barracks, Bessbrook, south Armagh where I was given an ‘unofficial’ tour back in 2020. Originally a linen mill, it was converted by the British Army into a major military base and at one stage was reported to be the busiest helicopter airport in Europe.

I was fascinated with the buildings and the reminants of what used to be but more importantly how the Victorian architecture of the linen mill managed to withstand the ravages of time compared to the newer additions made by the British Army. The paintings reflect the many linear designs of the original flax spinning sheds but also incorporates the masses of 20th century barbed wire that encompassed the entire barracks.