William Conor RHA RUA: A Belfast Visionary William Conor OBE RHA PPRUA ROI (1881–1968) was a Belfast-born artist who captivated audiences with his poignant portrayals of ordinary Ulster life and cemented his place as one of Northern Ireland’s most celebrated visual artists. Born in 5 Fortingale Street, Belfast – a location that ran from Agnes Street, off the Shankill Road to the Old Lodge Road in north Belfast – Conor descended from a family of wrought-iron workers, shaping his formative years amidst the industrial landscape of Victorian Belfast. His artistic inclinations were recognized ear…