Paul Doran (b. 1987, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a contemporary visual artist whose work explores abstraction, identity, and the social fabric of post-conflict Belfast. He has expressive mark-making with figurative and symbolic elements, creating layered, textured compositions that navigate themes of belonging, memory, and resilience.

His practice bridges studio-based painting with public art and socially engaged projects, often collaborating with communities to explore mental health, healing, and reconciliation. Doran’s paintings and murals have been exhibited internationally across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and Asia. He has shown work in major venues including the Zari Gallery (London), Sol Art Gallery (Dublin), Titantic Museum (Belfast) and Gaia Artspace (Hong Kong). He is based in Copenhagen and works between Ireland and Denmark.

Doran has been featured in The Financial Times, BBC, Fitzrovia News, Irish News, Irish Times, Institute of Irish studies, Irish Arts Review, PBS News Hour, ZDF Germany, ARTE France, The Newsletter, Extramural activity, The Belfast Telegraph, Penguin Books, Art Matter, Channel 4, and others. Doran has Collections in Hong Kong, Ivory Coast, UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia, USA, Switzerland, Norway, and many more.

Education and Awards

Master's degree in Creative Practice, Scholarship, Liverpool Hope University 2015
Bachelor's degree Fine Art, Liverpool Hope University 2011
Irish Times Critic’s Choice 2019
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Travel Award (France) 2017
European Commission sponsorship for ‘No Walls’ project, Titanic Museum Belfast 2017
Shortlisted finalist for the Northern Ireland Creative Industry Skills Award 2015
Wynn Vivian Graduate Art Prize Liverpool 2011
Also part of artist duo TR! - Emily Bisgaard (Denmark) & Paul Doran (Northern Ireland)

Exhibitions/Projects

2026

‘Different Together’ AVA Mural in collaboration with 5 students from Belfast School of Art.

Residency at The Painter's House in Sønderho, Fanø Denmark

2025

Paul Doran, St Joseph’s College Belfast, Exhibition ‘Who Is Us?’ Irish Cultural Centre London, UK.
Group Exhibition ‘Foul Feelings’ Maxus101 Gallery. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Solo Exhibition ‘Hardly Normal’ Sol Art Gallery Dublin, Ireland
Evolve Art Fair. Dublin, Ireland.
‘Make Room’ mural. Skjold Contemporary. Copenhagen, Denmark.

2024

Duo show ‘Through The Labyrinth’ Emily Bisgaard & Paul Doran. Gaia Artspace Gallery. Hong Kong, China.
Group collaboration project ‘Taking & Giving’ Blessed Ministry Church (first LGBTQI+ inclusive church in Asia). Hong Kong, China

2023

Group show ‘Minding Minds Together 2’ Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.

Group show ‘Play 4 Peace’ Shankill Mission. Belfast, Northern Ireland.
‘Peace of Mind on the Peace Line’ In collaboration with Mark Ervine mental health mural on the Peace Wall. Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Group show ‘Minding Minds Together 1’. In collaboration with Wave Trauma and Queens University, Medicine Department. Ross’s Auction House, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2022

Residency at Ross’s Auction House, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Solo show 'Speech within Reach' Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
Group show 'Home' The Hallows Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2021

Group show 'Consequences of Circumstances' Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
Solo show 'A Web of Echoes' Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
Manchester Art Fair, MAF England.

2020

Group Show 'Drawing The Unkown'. Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Solo show 'Permission to Hope'. Zari Gallery, Fitzrovia, London.
Group show 'Sifting Through the Commonplace' Sol Art Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.

2019

Boomtown Belfast, mural commission with Mark Ervine featured on ZDF German Television, 'No Man's Land', Belfast, Northern Ireland.

London Hampstead Art Fair, AAF, London, England.

Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair, AAF, Hong Kong.

Solo show 'Diaspora' Sol Art Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.

Fresh Art Fair, Royal Ascot, England.

VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland.

Art Source Art Fair, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland.

2018

Group show, 'Irish collection of Contemporary Art' Hallows Gallery, Belfast.

'The Wall' Real Stories Global Commodity mural commission, featured in 6-part Documentary series, Belfast Interface, BBC, S4C Wales & TG4 Ireland.

'Art Makes Memories' freestyle collage 40-foot mural with creative memorabilia sponsored by Red Bull, AVA Festival. Visual artist conference at The Mac Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Solo show 'State of Flux'. Hallows Gallery, Culture Night, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Group show, 'Grand Opening' new gallery, D’Olier Street. Sol Art Gallery, Dublin, Ireland.

Timeless Arts & Antiques Fair, Royal Dublin Society, Ireland.

Art Source Art Fair, Royal Dublin Society, Ireland.

VUE Art Fair, Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin, Ireland.

PBS News Hour 360 video. 'Walk through Northern Ireland as it confronts the legacy of the Troubles’ mural with Mark Ervine, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2017

Group show 'Irish Contemporary Art'. Hallows Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Group show 'No Walls'. KRM (Cherif & Geza), Paul Doran and John Costi. Project sponsored by EU Commission & Arts Council NI, held at Andrew’s Gallery in Titanic Museum and Interface Peace Wall, Belfast.

2016

Group show 'Liverpool School of Urban Art'. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool, England.

Group show 'Culture Night Belfast'. Emer Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2015

Group show 'Spontaneous Control'. Hydebank Wood College Young Offenders Prison, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Charity Group show 'Urban Showcase'. La Mont Jacques, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

2014

Group show 'Liverpool School Launch'. Anglican Cathedral Liverpool, England.

Group show 'Down But Not Out'. Andrew’s Gallery, Titanic Museum, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2013

Group show Liverpool Biennial 'Wynn Vivian Showcase'. Cornerstone Liverpool, England.

Group show 'Contemporary Urbanus'. Clove Hitch Gallery, Hope Street, Liverpool, England.

2012

Group show 'For One Night Only'. The Blackler’s Room, Liverpool, England.

Group show 'Liverpool Art Fair'. Camp and Furnace, Liverpool, England.

Group show ‘Exhibit my Work I'm European’. Fallout Factory, Liverpool, England.

Group show 'MA Interim Exhibition'. St Barnabas Church, Penny Lane, Liverpool, England.

2011

Group show 'Transition' Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool, England.