Pauline Bewick (1935)
Based in County Kerry Pauline Bewick enjoys international acclaim for her unique style and vibrant work.
Major exhibitions include the retrospective “Two Years to Fifty Years,” first shown in the Guinness Hopstore in 1986, and subsequently travelling to various museums including the Ulster Museum, Belfast. Also the hugely successful Yellow Man Exhibition was held at the Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin in 1996. Bewick continues to be prolific in her seventies and there have been many publications to date both by her and about her. 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)
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 over 30 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.
