Born in Dublin, grandson of
Maurice Walsh author of ‘The Quiet Man’, Manus began his career in the field of stained glass, working for the famous Abbey Stained Glass Studios in Dublin during the sixties. It was during his time there that he met George Campbell R.H.A., who became his mentor and friend and also encouraged him to take up painting full time. Among many of Manus’ stained glass designs at that time, were five windows for Galway Cathedral, and more recently the Michael Greene Memorial window which can be seen in St. John’s Church, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.
Manus has been living and working in Ballyvaughan for over thirty years. The Burren, this unique corner of Ireland, has had a major influence on his life and work. His Burren paintings are a wonderful series of stratified landscapes, all horizontal lines, full of ghosts, still, calm, including some remarkable nocturnal views.
Manus has also travelled widely, especially through Spain and Chile. His travels have brought
an infusion of colour and rhythm to his paintings, seen in the graceful shapes and strong outlines of his still-lifes, the hustle and bustle of a Valparaiso scene, or the noonday heat of a Spanish village. His association with Spain goes back to the sixties, where he spent many formative months with George Campbell in Malaga. Manus has kept up this association to the present day, and for the past six years has had the opportunity to live and work in various parts of Andalucia. Many of his Spanish works reflect on his time high up in the
Sierra de Almijara. His most recent Spanish exhibition was in Malaga in April 2011. Manus has had four exhibitions in Chile, the most recent in La Sebastiana, the former home of Nobel poet,
Pablo Neruda.
Manus has had more than thirty five solo exhibitions, including a retrospective in the Kenny Gallery, Galway in 2002. His two recent solo exhibitions in Kilcock Art Gallery and Leinster Gallery were both sell-out shows.
His work is in the collections of the Arts Council, AIB Group, Insurance Corporation of Ireland, Shannon Development and the Office of Public Works along with many private collections in Ireland and abroad.