Denise Ryan studied at the Limerick School Of Art and had her first solo exhibition in 1973 at the Thomond Gallery Limerick, shortly after graduating. She has lived and worked in the Burren, Co Clare, and this landscape and the Burren shoreline, has been the focus of her work for many years. She recently moved to the Axarquia region of Andalusia, where she continues her work as an artist.

Her paintings are focused on light, and how weather events impact visually on the landscape. Moments of alteration where physical landscape interacts with the elements, and the tangible appears to merge with the intangible.

Denise has had several solo shows, as well as participating in group exhibitions, and many two/ three person shows. Her work is in private collections in Ireland, UK, mainland Europe and Saudi Arabia. Public Collections include, Failte Ireland, Permanent TSB, Clare County Council. and the Health Service Executive.