Painter whose speciality was the racehorse in action and the atmosphere of the racecourse. He was born in Waterford, Ireland, studying in England at Stonyhurst College and then Millfield, where he won an art scholarship. From 1971–3 he studied under Signorina Simi in Florence, in 1974 briefly with John Skeaping. His first solo show was with Tryon Gallery in 1976, which continued to exhibit his work. Curling was closely involved in racing: he rode on the Berkshire Downs and at Newmarket; rode his own horse Caddy, trained by Edward O’Grady, to victory in a bumper race in Ireland; and he hunted regularly with the Tipperary, where he settled. Curling completed many commissioned pictures of well-known horses; he also painted landscapes; and his largest assignment was a huge mural for John Mangier at Coolmore.