Acclaimed artist Pauline Bewick dies aged 86 – The Irish Times

Acclaimed artist Pauline Bewick has died peacefully at her residence in Glenbeigh, County Kerry, at the age of 86.

Mrs Bewick died in the presence of her family at her home in Treanmanagh on Thursday afternoon. She will lay there from 4-8pm this Sunday before a private family cremation at the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork on Monday.

Pauline Bewick was born in the North of England but grew up mainly in Co Kerry. Primarily self-taught, although she attended the National College of Art and Design in 1950, her creativity found an outlet early in her life, as her first sketches survive when she was two and a half years old. She had her first exhibition of hers in 1957 at the Clog Gallery, Dublin, after which she moved to London. There, Pauline was commissioned by BBC Television to illustrate and write a ten-minute series of programs called “Little Jimmy”. The income from this enabled him to spend time traveling around Greece and around the Mediterranean.

She had an exhibition of some 1,500 works entitled ‘Two to Fifty’, held at the Guinness Storehouse in 1986. Well known for her work in watercolours, she has also created stained glass windows, oil paintings and sculptures.

Upon her 70th birthday, Pauline donated five hundred pieces of her life’s work to the State, including tapestries, tapestries, watercolors, and sketches. The Seven Ages collection represents every decade and facet of a woman’s life and is on display in Waterford and Kerry. A member of both Aosdána and the RHA, she has exhibited at the Taylor Galleries in Dublin, the Frank Lewis Gallery in Killarney and the Catto Gallery in London.

On Friday afternoon, President Michael D. Higgins said he remembers “very fondly” a recent visit to his studio in Kerry last November.

Statement by President Higgins on the death of Pauline Bewick

“As President of Ireland, and on behalf of Sabina, I know that we will be among the many in Ireland and beyond who have listened with deep sadness to the passing of our dear friend, renowned artist Pauline Bewick,” he said.

“Pauline’s life of generosity was exemplified by her gift of over 500 pieces of her life’s work to the Irish nation on her seventieth birthday.

“Sabina joins me in sending our deep condolences to Pauline’s daughters Poppy and Holly, sons-in-law, grandchildren, niece and nephew, her wider family and her many friends. Suaimhneas siorai da hanam.”

Kenmare Borough Cathaoirleach, Cllr Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen, told The Irish Times that Ms Bewick achieved an extraordinary amount in her lifetime.

“He had a great life. She fit very well into it. She had a wonderful family and they (her daughters) of hers are also very artistic and creative. Pauline was an English lady, but she really fell in love with Kerry, the landscape and the people, and she captured a lot of that in her work and her art from the people she met, the characters in the area, etc. She spent most of her life in Killorglin and was always very generous with her time and helping the community. Even donating art. She made a great contribution.

In 2019, Ms Bewick received the Kerry Association in Dublin Arts Award at a ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain with President Michael D Higgins and Sabina Higgins.

President Higgins said the award was an important recognition of all that Ms Bewick has given to the cultural and artistic dimension of Irish society throughout her career.

“Hers is the journey of an artist who has always followed her own path, reflecting on the world in her own unique way, eschewing categorization, refusing to fit into any genre.

“For Pauline, art is freedom, the freedom to imagine everything that is possible, to create worlds without limits, unconditional landscapes where everything is conceivable. Her work is, as a result, expression in its truest form, without the burden of purpose or expectation, moving us away from the everyday into alternative existences.”

Kerry Mayor John Francis Flynn also paid tribute to the late Mrs Bewick. The artist was a well-known figure in Kerry and a familiar figure in Killorglin to whom she donated a significant collection.

“I am very saddened to learn of the passing of Pauline Bewick. Pauline was a much-loved Kerry artist and one of Ireland’s most acclaimed and charismatic painters,” she said. “Pauline was kind enough to donate her ‘Seven Ages’ collection to Kerry County Council. This impressive collection encompasses her life’s work, with 250 rotated pieces on display at Library Place Killorglin. Pauline was a true artist, prolific and passionate, her work will inspire generations to come.”

Also paying tribute was Kerry’s art officer, Kate Kennelly, a friend of the late artist.

“It was a privilege to have met Pauline many times over the last twenty years. Her love for Kerry; her landscape, her people and her culture are warmly reflected in her works. We have lost a truly creative soul and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time,” said Ms. Kennelly.

He is survived by his daughters, Poppy and Holly Melia and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made, if they wish, to www.kerryhospice.com