In the Media

RHA Annual Exhibition 2026

I’m delighted and honoured to share that my painting The Swimming Pool has been selected for the RHA Annual Exhibition.

The 196th RHA Annual Exhibition is one of Ireland’s most prestigious and anticipated art events, celebrating nearly two centuries of artistic excellence. As the country’s largest and longest-running open submission exhibition, it brings together Academy Members, invited artists and works selected through a highly competitive open call. Each year, the exhibition showcases the very best of contemporary art, presenting outstanding painting, sculpture, drawing, print, photography, architecture and mixed media by both emerging and established artists. 

Renowned for its exceptional quality and diversity, the RHA Annual Exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the breadth of contemporary artistic practice in Ireland and beyond. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a first-time visitor, the 196th RHA Annual Exhibition promises an inspiring and unforgettable celebration of creativity.

Avril standing beside The Swimming Pool painting
The Swimming Pool

Desperate Houses

Desperate Houses was a series on RTÉ One that visited cluttered homes. With Avril and the Desperate Houses team, they helped the owners tackle their hoarding head on and offer them real solutions with an entire makeover.

Avril presented Desperate Houses from 2005 to 2007. The programme provides a look into real people’s lives during a 3 day de-clutter and makeover. Avril is on hand to reorganise clutter and offer smart and practical tips while giving the rooms a makeover.

“I love working on ‘Desperate Houses’. Apart from the fun of meeting so many new faces, I really enjoy the challenge of turning a home around in such a short space of time”.
The Pat Kenny Show

The Pat Kenny Show, NewsTalk

Ask The Expert: Avril Murphy Allen Interior Designer

Avril Murphy Allen, Interior Designer, and artist was our expert this morning, and Avril helped with listeners' queries on designing homes and spaces.

LISTEN NOW  >

The Ryan Tubridy Show, RTÉ Radio 1

Top Tips to De-cluttering your home

Let’s face it, we are a nation of clutterers!  We love to collect things, drag them with us each time we move home, stack it in corners, on shelves, in spare rooms, and continually promise to sort it out… but we never do. If you need help to declutter you home, here are 10 tips to help you succeed…
Decluttering Your Home - Avril Murphy Allen on The Ryan Tubridy Show, RTÉ Radio 1
  1. Plan to hire a skip
  2. Get organised
    Get black bags and boxes and label them. This way you have a place to put things as you take them out of the room.
  3. Starting point
    Start at the front door and go through each room. The hallway can be a tough one to de-clutter as this area is usually small and without storage. Try not to leave items in transit for longer than a day.
  4. Do one room at a time
  5. Do one thing at a time
    ie: a drawer, a cupboard, the coffee table.
  1. Give to charity
  2. Re-house items
    Put clothes, dvd’s, shoes, paperwork back where they belong.
  3. Sitting room
    Store items like dvd’s and video’s on shelves or in storage units re-cycle newspapers weekly.
  4. Every day begins in your bedroom
    It’s the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning and last thing you see at night.
  5. Buy new storage for your home
    This should only be done when decluttering is finished. That way you know what storage is needed.