Kevin Sharkey: 'music has taken over my life again'

DONEGAL artist Kevin Sharkey is putting down his easel and becoming a full time songwriter instead. After 14 years as a painter, the 49-year-old plans to write tunes for the likes of Grace Jones and Dead or Alive and says: "Having gotten to the top of the art game, music has taken over my life again."

Sharkey admits his decision was influenced by business problems he suffered last year after overstretching himself. "I ended up with three galleries in three different countries. It put me in a position where I had to sell a quarter of a million euros of work before I made a cent. I was a shopkeeper really."

Kevin says he won't be charging for his music and will instead give it away free on his website (www.kevinsharkey.com). However he does plan to sell off the last of his canvases in a sale at his Dublin studio on 21 June. "You know I painted for years while trying all these other schemes to get rich. Yet it was painting which made me millions. That taught me you should do what you love and the rest will fall into place."