Resume
Brian was trained at the Royal Academy of Art London.
His paintings have been exhibited and installed at Cathedrals and institutions worldwide:
- National Portrait Gallery in London unveiling of their acquisition of Brian’s portrait of ‘Shane MacGowan – Boy From The County Hell’ forthcoming 2027, see Shane McGowan Gallery.
- Noah – A Future Hope – 2025 – 2027
- Holy Trinity Wallstreet St Paul’s Chapel, NYC, USA – Feb 12 – Mar 18th, 2025
- St Paul’s on the Green in Norwalk, CT, USA
- Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. (2 exhibitions)
- St. Martins in the Field, Trafalgar Square London (multiple exhibitions)
- St. Edmunsbury Cathedral in Bury St. Edmunds, England (multiple exhibitions)
- Norwich Cathedral in Norwich, England
- St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
- The Language School of The Legion of St. Gabriel in Czestochowa, Poland
- Parador Dos Reis Catolicos, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Villanova University of Pennsylvania, USA
- Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection, Delaware, Ohio
- Pauly Friedman Art Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas, Pennsylvania, USA
- Verostcocenter, St. Vincent’s College, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA
- Chapel of Christ the King, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA
- Barone Center, University of Fairfield, Fairfield, CT, USA
- Hartford International University, Hartford, CT, USA
International Tours of Exhibitions
“Noah – A Future Hope”
2025 – 2027
An artistic exploration featuring three premier contemporary artists from the faith traditions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism on the importance of caretaking the earth inspired by the story of Noah, the ancient flood narrative found in all three Abrahamic faiths.
“The Life of Rev. John Roberts”
2023 – 2024
Thirteen commissioned paintings for Rev. Dr. John Roberts premiered at the John Roberts Festival, and embarked on an international tour.
Learn more…
“The Passion of Edith Cavell”
2014 – 2019
The international tour began in Washington, DC at the National Cathedral in 2014, with a stop in Brussels and its final resting place and installation at Norwich Cathedral during September/October 2015, the 100-year anniversary of Edith Cavell’s execution. The paintings returned to Belgium in 2019, at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula to mark the Translation of Edith’s body from Brussels to Norwich Cathedral.
“The Quiet Men”
2009 – 2010
This tour showcased works inspired by the Irish diaspora. The tour began at West London’s PM Gallery, where award-winning journalist Fergal Keane opened the exhibition; moved on to the Celtic Fringe show at the Licco de Noya Institute in Galicia Spain; and the Villanova University Art Gallery in Philadelphia
Publications and Films
Screenwriter of three produced films (one funded and archived by National Gallery of Art, London) and author of one play (premiered by Green Curtain Theatre Company on the London stage in 2018). Author of numerous books.
Collections
- National Portrait Gallery in London
- The James Joyce Centre, Dublin, Ireland
- A series of fourteen paintings entitled “the Passion of Edith Cavell” installed at Norwich Cathedral, Norfolk , England
- Various works are on display and for sale at Mandells Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
- The Martyrdom of St. Edmund and The Magi permanently hang in St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK
- A portrait of Louise de Montfort is installed in The Language School of The Legion of St. Gabriel in Czestochowa, Poland.
- Holy City With Herald is in the Parador Dos Reis Catolicos, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
- Agnus Dei is in St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London, UK
- Several works are in the collection of Villanova University of Pennsylvania, USA.
- Several works are in the collection of The Heartland Community Church of Medina, Ohio.
- The largest private collection of Brian’s paintings are in the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection, Delaware, Ohio.
I think God has His hand on Brian… His art is so original and comes from within, which always makes people think.
—Art Critic, Sister Wendy Beckett
Solo Exhibitions
| 2025 | Holy Trinity Wallstreet St Paul’s Chapel, NYC, USA |
| 2024 | Holy City – a Spiritual Pilgrimage – Hartford International University for Religion and Peace, Hartford, Connecticut |
| 2023 – 2025 | The Life of Rev John Roberts of the Wind River Reservation Wyoming – Currently on an International Tour |
| 2023 – 2024 | Holy City at Fairfield University – Barone Center, University of Fairfield, Fairfield, CT, USA |
| 2021 | Public Personas – Westport River Gallery, Westport, Connecticut, USA |
| 2019 | La Passion d’Edith Cavell – Cathédrale des Sts Michel et Gudule, Bruxelles, Belgium |
| Head to Head – Waterford, Virginia, USA | |
| 2018 | Noli Me Tangere – Waterford, Virginia, USA |
| A Tragic Carmody – London, UK | |
| 2017 | Mystery of the Message – Waterford, Virginia, USA |
| Country Pursuits – Middleburg, Virginia, USA | |
| Holy City, A Pilgrimage of Sight – Washington, DC, USA | |
| 2016 | Summer Solstice – Waterford, Virginia, USA |
| 2015 | Winter Solstice – Waterford, Virginia, USA |
| The Passion of Edith Cavell – Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, UK | |
| The Passion of Edith Cavell – Basilica of Koekelberg, Brussels, Belgium | |
| Summer Solstice – Waterford, Virginia, USA | |
| 2014 | The Passion of Edith Cavell – Washington National Cathedral, Washington DC. USA |
| St. Ives Cross – St Ives Church, St. Ives, Cornwall, UK | |
| Brian Whelan at Duvall’s Designs – Millwood, Virginia,USA | |
| 2013 | From Here…To Epiphany – Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich, UK |
| Brentwood Cross – Brentwood Cathedral, Brentwood, UK | |
| Holy City Collection – Arusha Art at The Church of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK | |
| 2012 | Mystery of the Message – St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Sq. London,UK |
| The Passion of St Edmund – St. Edmundsbury, Bury St. Edmunds, UK | |
| Brian Whelan – London Illuminated 2012 – Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall, London, UK | |
| Brian Whelan – Un Peregrinaje para la Mirada – Club Financiero Atlántico, La Coruna, Spain | |
| Brian Whelan at Los Catolicos Parador – Santiago de Compostela, Spain | |
| 2011 | Brian Whelan at the Cathedral – Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, UK |
| Brian Whelan at St Martins – St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, UK | |
| 2010 | Sacred Space – The Sacred Space Gallery, Notting Hill, London, UK |
| Saints and Cities – St. Michael and All Saints, Barnes, London, UK | |
| Ciudad Santa – The Jose Lorenzo Gallery, Santiago de Compostela, Spain | |
| 2009 | Christmas Show (solo) – Hospital Arts, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK |
| 2008 | A Casket of Wonders – St. Edmundsbury Cathedral Gallery, Bury St. Edmunds, UK |
| Spirited Tails – Crome Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk, UK | |
| Salvation – Damnation – St. Martin’s Window Gallery, London, UK | |
| 2007 | Holy Ground – St. Edmundsbury Cathedral Cloister Gallery, Suffolk, UK |
| Holy Ground – Crome Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk, UK | |
| Whelan at City Hall – At the invitation of the Mayor of London, Westminster, London, UK | |
| 2006 | Pillar of Salt – St. Benedict’s, Abbey Ealing, London, UK |
| 2005 | The Feast Day of St. Edmund – St. Edmundsbury Cathedral Cloister Gallery, UK |
| Red Roads Kampala – Golf Course Apartments, Kampala, Uganda | |
| The Myth of Return – Hammersmith Irish Arts Centre, London, UK | |
| 2004 | We Three Kings – The Ellises, Stradbroke, Suffolk, UK |
| The Miracle of the Holy House – Church of Reconciliation, Walsingham, Norfolk, UK | |
| 2003 | The Holy House – Benedictine Arts and Study Centre Gallery, London, UK |
| A Flag for the Irish Diaspora – Tricycle Theatre Gallery, Kilburn, London, UK | |
| 2002 | From Eternity to Oblivion – The Irish Club, Eaton Square, London, UK |
| 2001 | Night Train – Limelight Gallery, Lewisham, London, UK |
| Holy Orders – Hammersmith Irish Arts Centre, Hammersmith, London, UK | |
| 1987 | The Abbot Hall Art Gallery – Kendal, Cumbria, UK |
| The Grundy Gallery – Blackpool, Lancashire, UK | |
| 1986 | Vernon Gallery – Preston, Lancashire, UK |
| 1985 | Gallery Siau – Amsterdam, Netherlands |
It is rare to find a contemporary artist so confident in his portrayal of traditional religious themes.
—Rev. Canon John McLuckie, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Group Exhibitions
| 2021 | The Voices Project: Immigration – Misercordia University, Dallas, PA |
| Transformation. Community. Holy Cross – St. Francis of Assisi Lecture – King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA | |
| Guild Summer Salon – Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT | |
| Public Personas – Westport River Gallery, Westport, CT | |
| 2019 | Legacy – Royal Academy School East Anglia, Colchester, England, UK |
| 2018 | The Prayer in the Garden – Vineyard Columbus Community Gallery, Delaware, Ohio, USA |
| 2017 | Family in Flight – St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| We Three Kings – Vineyard Columbus Church, Columbus, Ohio, USA | |
| 2015 | Were you there? – St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Delaware, Ohio, USA |
| On Main Street – Byrne Gallery, Middleburg, Virginia, USA | |
| London Irish Art Exhibition 2015 – Westminster Hall, London, UK | |
| 2014 | Out of the Cold – The Foundry, Washington DC, USA |
| Cabin Fever – Byrne’s Gallery, Middleburg, Virginia, USA | |
| 2013 | Art Alive – Assembly House, Norwich, UK |
| Cley 13 Flight of the Spoonbill – Cley, Norfolk, UK | |
| St Ives Sacred Art Exhibition – St Ives Church, Cornwall, UK | |
| East Anglia Group – Royal Academy – Mandell’s Gallery, Norwich, UK | |
| Deck of Cards – 18/21 Gallery, Norwich, UK | |
| 2012 | Art Alive! – Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Arts Auction, London, UK |
| All Things Christmas – Assembly House Christmas Exhibition, Norwich, UK | |
| Cley 12 Aisle and Air – Cley Church, Cley, Norfolk, UK | |
| Journeying Towards Easter – Blythburgh, Suffolk, UK | |
| 2011 | Flying Colours Fascinating Forms – Assembly House, Norwich, UK |
| Ad Limina – Salthouse ‘11 Church, Salthouse, Norfolk, UK | |
| “The Class of…” – Ipswich Art School Gallery, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK | |
| 2010 | The Quiet Men – The Art Gallery, Villanova University, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Summer Showcase – Doric Arts, Holt, Norfolk, UK | |
| 2009 | Our Books Our Lives – Si Nordic Arts Centre, Beijing, China |
| Visionaries Greenbelt Festival – Cheltenham, UK | |
| Salt of the Earth, Salthouse ’09 – Salthouse, Norfolk, UK | |
| Celtic Fringe – Liceo de Noya, Santiago de Compostela, Spain | |
| Visionaries – working in the margins – Wallspace, London, UK | |
| Spring Show – Wildwood Gallery, Bury St. Edmunds, UK | |
| City – Tsinghua Academy of Arts and Crafts, Beijing, China | |
| The Quiet Men – Pitzhanger Gallery, Ealing, London, UK | |
| 2008 | A Table of Welcome – Art Sans Frontiers Trois, Norwich 20 Group, Norwich, UK |
| Salthouse ’08 – Salthouse, Norfolk, UK | |
| 2007 | Through Irish Eyes – Culture Ireland in Beijing, China |
| Kgetsi Ya Tsie – Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Gaborone, Botswana | |
| 2006 | Summer Show – Cork Brick Gallery, Bungay, Suffolk, UK |
| 2003 | Christmas Show – The Solomon Gallery, Dublin, Ireland |
| 2000 | The Church Pub – Aldeburgh Fringe Festival, Suffolk, UK |
| 1999 | Art in Architecture – Halesworth, Suffolk, UK |
| 1986 | 5 Dunhill Show – Gallery Siau, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 1983 | Summer Show – Sackville Room, Royal Academy of Art, London, UK |
| 1981 | New Contemporaries – Institute of Contemporary Art, London, UK |