Conor McClure Illustration

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Conor McClure Illustration

Freelance illustrator, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ACAB cat prints- http://bitly.ws/KSBx

25/05/2026

New junction box painted in Broadway... dedicated to history of the working women of the linen mills in the Village area. Up the Millys.

Couldnt have picked a worse day to be painting a scaulding hot metal box, and definitely got a few extra freckles, but good craic none the less, and some lovely feedback from the locals.

Cheers to for the commision!

25/04/2026

This week I was delighted to exhibit as part of the Health Innovation and Research Alliance conference in Titanic Belfast.

The exhibition presents a series of 7 paintings exploring the lived realities and systemic causes of health inequalities in Belfast.

Created as part of ongoing practice based research in collaboration with the Digital Healthcare Technology Accelerator at Ulster University, the project seeks to communicate complex health challenges to scientists, engineers, researchers, and leaders who are shaping future healthcare systems.

In partnership with Belfast City Council, the place-based project focuses on areas of high deprivation, where inequalities in access, experience, and outcomes lead to significantly lower life expectancy.

Over the past few months I have engaged with around 30 community-facing organisations, gathering feedback, perspectives on their experience in the healthcare system and the potential for change in policy amd procedure from the ground up. The artworks reflect a range of interconnected issues, including mental health, addiction, access to care, women’s health, imprisonment, and the role of emerging technologies.

I'll post the individual images in the coming days, with the stories behind each.

📷 .photo

05/12/2025

Heres my piece from last nights opening of 'Smile Please'.

Taking a suitably darker tone than most, as usual, my illustration is based on the work of Guillaume- Benjamin- Amand Duchenne de Bologne, a 19th century Fench neurologist who studied how facial expressions are produced by specific muscles through electirical shocks.

This image is of a common recurring character in his studies, only referred to as 'the toothless old man' , who was instrumental in the discovery in the difference between a voluntary non-genuine forced smile and involuntary genuine 'Duchenne' smile, with the genuine smile activating the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye, causing crows feet. The eyes, they never lie... 👀

See example 6 for an example of the forced smile😀

Thanks so much to everyone who called in, it was great to catch up with a whole bunch of illustrators old and new, and amazing work from the team, and in pulling it all together.

This, along with the rest of the more cheery work is on display throughout the mknth of December in

23/07/2025

A visual retelling of Norman Rockwells 'Freedom from Fear' oil painting, based on the fundamental human right for safety and security for all according to The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights.

"The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world."
Franklin D. Roosevelt- 1941

How miserably humanity has continued to fail humanity...

🕊️ The people are not political. 🕊️

16/07/2025

Proserpine- Dante Gabriel Rossetti

"This painting captures the moment after the goddess Proserpine bites into a pomegranate. Imprisoned in the underworld, she is lit by a beam of sunlight from the world above. According to Roman legend, Hades, the God of the Underworld, stole and imprisoned Proserpine. Because she ate six pomegranate seeds while captive, he curses her to remain in the underworld for six months of every year."

My attempt at a recreation of Rossettis Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece that I came across in the Tate gallery a few weeks back.
My first proper attempt at a shaded b/w portrait on any kind of large scale. Probably needed an extra hour or 2 (hands are hard) but my little sun burnt neck needed a break after 4 hours of getting cooked.

I'll brave some colour next time...

04/07/2025

"Biggie Smalls is the wickedest"
Quick portrait of Biggie in between rain showers this afternoon to launch

It's a complete game changer to have this kind of space to experiment and try out ideas without the pressure of clients, briefs, or the police chasing you off, and to work as big or small (no pun intended) as you like.... although I may need a bigger ladder next time.

Everyone should have a go and fill that street up with beautiful drawings. It was adorable to see literal toddlers picking up their first cans and making their first murals with a smile on their face.

Huge shout-out to for all the hard work in making this space happen!

19/06/2025

Next Sunday, the 29th, I'll be taking part in the Bank Of Ideas 2025 proposal day, pitching for funding to develop and install an outdoor mini zine library. A small, weatherproof structure designed to house and share locally made zines, located in Ormeau Park, South Belfast.

This initiative aims to foster creativity, accessibility, and community engagement by offering a free, open platform for local creators, including writers, poets, artists, and illustrators to self-publish and share their work with the wider public.

My granny, 'Wee May' was a lifelong resident of the Ormeau Road, and the heart of the community for 84 years. She'd be out on the road every day buying her trashy magazines ('That's Life' was a particular favourite of mine for the ridiculous headlines'), and she loved stopping to chat to every person along her way.

This project is just a tiny homage to her, and the joy she brought to all she met, one of many unique and creative voices that make up the Ormeau Road ❤️

If you're about, feel free to come support my little idea at the voting day in Belfast City Hall on Sunday 29th June, any time between 2-5pm.

You’ll have multiple votes to give out, the decision making is in the hands of the people to choose which creative ideas will come to life in our city.

It’s a family-friendly day out, there’ll be lots of entertainment as well as the incredible stalls of ideas and kids can vote too, so bring everyone along!

There is an alternative vote method for those who can’t access the Voting Day, you can vote via this email [email protected] on Monday 30th June – the day after our City Hall event.

For more info visit

Wish me luck! 🤞

05/05/2025

Know Their Names- A memorial to the children of Gaza who didn't get the chance to celebrate their first birthdays.

320 hand written names framing a Palestinian Sunbird, a national symbol of hope, freedom and resistance. The names included make up only a tiny portion of the massive list I had to work through... It would have taken the entirety of the street to include even half of the children lost since 2023.

A very different, sobering and fairly somber for me this year, but thanks to all who stopped to chat, for all the responses to the piece and to all the crew for another amazing festival!

🕊️ The people are not political. 🕊️

04/10/2024

Delighted to have created the artwork for Dominic Montagues latest play 'Aurora: A Modern Myth'.

It's always a pleasure working with Dominic, there's no lack of beautiful imagery within his stories to get the creative juices flowing. Every one of the plays I have seen to date has been world class, funny, thoughtful and moving, and from my sneak peak of the script this one will be no different!

Thanks to Dominic and the team at
For having me and Ben Willis for taking over the design duties while I was swanning around on honeymoon.

29/07/2024

Great craic at yesterdays Hit The Coast jam. Thanks as always to the for having me, and putting on a great event with amazing work on show. Check out their Instagram for more sneak peaks.

This is my piece inspired by the 2 majestic swans featured on the town coat of arms. A little more loosey goosey (pun intended) than I usually allow, but happy with the results and happy to avoid too many straight lines for once.

Big shout-out to wall neighbour for her sick first spray painted wall! Absolutely killed it with her cheeky little cherries 🔥 🍒 🔥

Address

Belfast
BT86

Website

http://conormcclure.com/

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