Anna Peters backs Longford with opening of exciting and vibrant new business - Athena Fine Art Gallery and Café

Last week Anna Peters was holding interviews for a gallery position within Athena Fine Art Gallery and Café, Longford`s new and only fine art gallery.

Ironically only a year ago, Anna was herself attending interviews for similar positions, but with her family and roots in Longford, Anna decided to move home after five years in Dublin and set up this exciting and vibrant new business.

With her qualifications, Anna could have relocated to London, Paris or Rome, but instead she backs Longford and the progression it is experiencing.

Anna studied at the National College of Art and Design, where she graduated with a Bachelor in Ceramics and Glass and a Masters in Sculpture and Expanded Practice.

Early in 2023, the seed of an idea of bringing her fantastic education and skill set to a new exciting business in Longford town was planted and over the following weeks and months this developed into the concept of Longford`s only fine art gallery - Athena Art Gallery - which opens its doors on Friday, December 1, 2023.

An incredibly driven young women who has represented her county in under age Gaelic Football, Anna represented her parish and county in three different events at the All Ireland National Community Games Finals and she also represented her parish in an All Ireland Scór na nÓg national final, she was not prepared to move away to follow her ambition of developing into a fine artist.

Anna moved home to Ireland in 2005 as a seven year old and attended Fermoyle national school in Lanesboro before moving on to Ballymahon Convent of Mercy Secondary School where she started to develop her passion and interest in art.

It was at Ballymahon convent where she won both the Junior and Senior Artist of the Year awards and decided art was the path forward for her. Anna spent a year preparing her portfolio for NCAD and submitted this in January 2017 and such was her determination and commitment to her love and passion of art, this was the only choice she had entered in her CAO application.

No other option was a course for her and Anna was duly accepted by NCAD in March 2017. Here she developed her skills under a world leading art college and completed her degree in 2020. She was forced to move home, adapt and complete her degree during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

This did not deter Anna and the work she had completed was spotted by Java Republic (a large coffee chain). They loved Anna`s work and invited her to design the branding for their Tanzanian coffee range, which is currently and proudly on the merchandise of this range.

Anna returned to Dublin in 2021 to complete her Masters degree. The Java Republic commission gave Anna the confidence and belief that a serious career in Art was an option.

With the support of her family who run a successful family business and under the guidance of the Local Enterprise Board Longford, Athena Fine Art Gallery and Café became a reality.