Based
in Kerry, Ireland, Bewick enjoys international acclaim for her
unique style and vibrant work.
Attracting record attendances to all her exhibitions, including
the retrospective Two Years to Fifty Years, first shown in the
Guinness Hopstore in 1986, subsequently travelling to the museums
of Ireland. Also the hugely successful Yellow Man, "Bewick's
ideal being" held at the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin (1996).
Bewick continues to be prolific in the third millenium and there
have been many publications
to date both by her and about her.
Pauline Bewick is one of the leading contemporary artists in Ireland.
Pauline was brought up on a small farm in Co. Kerry, Ireland.
Her mother Harry brought her two daughters to Ireland in the late
30's leaving Northumberland, England. Harry wrote an account of
their life in Kerry called "A Wild Taste" (Methuen).
After Kerry, they went to live in Wales and England and travelled
from progressive school to school, living in a caravan, a houseboat,
a railway carriage, a workman's hut, a gate lodge and, later in
a Dublin city house.
Bewick has now been living back in Kerry for 28 years with her
husband Patrick Melia. Their two daughters Poppy and Holly are
also artists. Bewick works in many media in three large studios.
She started to paint at the age of two and has continued throughout
her life. "Two to Fifty"
was a retrospective exhibition (1,500 works) at the Guinness Hop
Store in 1985, which attracted record attendances.
"The Yellow
Man" exhibition in 1996 at the Royal Hibernian
Academy, Dublin, also drew huge numbers of all ages.
The artist's biography was written by Dr. James White, art historian
and former Director of the National Gallery of Ireland; "Pauline
Bewick, Painting a Life".
(Wolfhoud Press 1985; new edition 2001)
In 2007 Pauline Bewick was commissioned to visually translate the 18th Century poem 'The Midnight Court' by Brian Merriman.
RHA: Royal Hibernian Academy.
AOSDÁNA: Aosdana honours artist
engaged in literature, music and the visual arts who has made
an outstanding contribution to the Arts in Ireland.
