Barrelfolk is an ongoing collaboration between Belfast’s only Illustration agency, USfolk, and Jameson Whiskey. The project involves Illustrators being assigned specific bars throughout Northern Ireland and creating bespoke hand-painted Whiskey Barrels that would serve both as a marketing tool for Jameson Whiskey but also as markers for the Jameson Whiskey tour around Belfast Bars.

I was lucky enough to be involved in Barrelfolk 2025 as part of International Women’s Day. Nine female artists were chosen and assigned bars throughout Northern Ireland. I was assigned the Guildhall Taphouse in Derry. The main brief prompt that was provided by the bar is that they’d like whales featured on it. This was due to them brewing their own beer called ‘Dopey Dick Brewing Co’ whose logo features a whale.

The project consisted of 2 days live painting in 2nd Royal Avenue Belfast, where all 9 female artists painted in the public eye, whilst sharing their creative experiences with one another.