McDowell founded the inter-disciplinary Troubled Image Group of artists* formed in 1970 in Belfast. Out of it came Art & Research Exchange and other groups up to Bbeyond. It included the Irish members of the FIU founded by Joseph Beuys and Heinrich Boll. This showing is from the artist’s collection. TIG presented complex often surreal truths to belie or satirise stereotyping by news media or propaganda such as that of sectarian muralists.

McDowell studied at Belfast, Slade, and Hamburg art schools and Cambridge University. He worked over 10 years with Beuys and 40 with Ricky Demarco. He is Director and founder of Summerhall. Others TIG artists: Denis McBride, John Kindness, Joseph & Catherine McWilliams, Jack Packenham, Victor Sloan, Gordon Woods, Roy Johnston, David Crone, Graham Gingles, Neil Shawcross, Alistair Maclennan, Stuart Brisley, Rita Donagh, Belinda Loftus, John Carson, Rainer Pagel, and John Vallely.