Cleator-Moor born Conrad Atkinson, whose work has been banned in Ulster for 30 years, has been chosen by curators at the Queen’s home at Hillsborough Castle in Belfast, for an exhibition celebrating the end of the troubles in Northern Ireland.

The works are studies for his 2010 portrait of Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams, normally in the National Portrait Gallery London, and a large section of his New Northern Ireland Wallpaper depicting the iconic image of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuiness laughing together at their first joint meeting, which was commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Belfast.

Atkinson who has a studio on the Solway Firth, splits his time between the UK and the USA where he is emeritus Professor at the University of California

He said: “Fame at last. I’m fairly astonished as much of my work was banned in Northern Ireland for 30 years.”

Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of her Majesty the Queen in Belfast, as well as home to the Secretary of State to Northern Ireland. It has had a 5-year, £24 million project to make it a more welcoming place for visitors.

“I hope the Queen takes a close look at the works when next in Belfast,” added Atkinson.

Atkinson and his wife Margaret Harrison were installing an exhibition in Belfast on the weekend of Bloody Sunday, in January 1972.

Six years later Belfast museum staff refused to display his work ‘Silver Liberties’, which commemorated the victims, 26 civilians shot by British troops.

Mairtin O Muilleoir, Lord Mayor of Belfast and past Finance Minister Northern Ireland, said: “Conrad Atkinson was to pop art what the Sex Pistols were to punk rock: the first to the barricades, the rebellious iconoclast, the knife to the gut.”

“Only a super artist like him he could have taken on that most kryptonite of subjects: Britain’s corrosive role in the North of Ireland. And yet he did so with a swagger and a derring-do which outraged the comfortable and comforted the afflicted.

“40-plus years on, it’s worth noting that his compelling love letters from Ireland have been vindicated by peace talks, ceasefires and a power-sharing parliament. And they say art can’t save lives. It did here, courtesy of Conrad. “

Laura Hutchinson for Historic Royal Palaces said: “We are really thrilled to have brought works from museums and galleries of international significance to this display – our motivation being to profile the many political leaders – local, national and international – who have used Hillsborough Castle as a space for the peace negotiations that defined the modern history of Northern Ireland.” “The display is going to be called Preparing The Peace, and it will hang in a room at the Castle called ‘Lady Grey’s Study’ – a particularly pertinent detail, since Gerry Adams’ office was in that room at one point during the negotiations.”

The exhibition was launched on Saturday along with a series of art, politics and royal tours.

Atkinson has many works on show in many places and in the UK in Barrow in Furness, MIMA in Middlesbrough and 11 Downing Street amongst others.

Most of the works are now in the Tate Gallery London and Wolverhampton City Art Gallery.

Conrad Atkinson was born in Cleator Moor, in 1940 and worked as a teacher and artist using a varied range of media. He gained degrees from Carlisle College of Art, Liverpool College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools between 1957 and 1965, later winning a Granada Fellowship.

He showed extensively in a variety of different galleries in 1970s: in 1972 and 1974 he held solo shows at ICA, in 1975 at Belfast Arts Council Gallery, in 1977 at Northern Arts Gallery and many others. In the 1990s and 2000 he showed, amongst others, at Dean Clough, Bluecoat Gallery and Courtauld Institute Gallery.

Since 1992 he has been Professor of Art and Chair Dept of Art and Art History University of California at Davis, where he is still Professor Emeritus.

As well as Northern Ireland, He has also addressed, among others, the curse of land mines, the poisoning of lungs with asbestos and the dictatorship in Chile.

2020 marks landmark celebrations of Atkinson’s work. Arts Council England has backed a series of exhibitions and events to mark his 80th birthday on June 15.

Between May and September there will be shows at Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Penrith Museum, and Florence Mine, near Egremont, the arts centre which was formerly an iron works where Atkinson’s father worked.

A display named “Outstallation” will also be shown at Dublin, Belfast, Carlisle, Teesside and Southend Airports, being sponsored by distribution company Eddie Stobart.