It is with great pleasure that the Lord Lieutenant Alison Millar announces the appointment of Mr Ross Wilson BEM as a Deputy Lieutenant of County Londonderry. Ross, one of our greatest Irish artists, was awarded a BEM in 2019 for services to the community and in particular cross-community work. He was High Sheriff of the County in 2020.
Ross’s work is part of many public collections including in the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. His work also hangs in many private collections including those of King Charles – indeed he was a guest of the then Prince Charles and painted with him. His public sculptures are well known not least the “Searcher” inspired by C S Lewis. It was commissioned for the centenary of C S Lewis and is set in Ballymacarrett in East Belfast(pictured) Others sculptures include ‘Nurse Ella Pirrie’ at the City Hospital Cancer Unit and he has worked with groups, particularly in disadvantaged communities, to create sculptures and wall murals. Ross’s paintings and sculptures, are highly acclaimed not least his portraits of Seamus Heaney and C S Lewis (pictured)
Ross and his family live near Culcrow in the townland of Aghadowey, close to where he grew up and he will join the 14 other DL’s drawn from all across the County. His strong belief that creative arts can provide opportunities for personal development and a more positive future for all, but especially for disadvantaged young people, will help the Lieutenancy promote the arts and cultural life of the County
