My eccentric Dublin family (Fay & Dowling) was a founder member of The Abbey; Ireland’s National Theatre with links to Augustus John’s bohemian café society in Chelsea, London where I lived a highly stimulating but bizarre existence with my captivating mother ‘Biddy’, counteracted by staid influences of a Montessori convent education in Kensington.  However, after being made the ward of the writer Mary Wesley I was ‘thrown to the wolves’ in a desolate suburb of south London but aided with a major County Scholarship to study Fine Art at London University (Goldsmiths) Thesis: William Morris and a further post-graduate teaching year at Middlesex University (Hornsey) Thesis: Applied Maths through Art & Play I eventually crawled out of the quagmire.  Known primarily for vibrant, expressionistic pastel flower paintings I was commissioned in 1995 by David & Charles publishers to write Vibrant Flower Painting ISBN 0 7153 0247 7 (available in libraries) and later invited to talk about my artwork on BBC Radio 4 Brushstrokes produced by Jenny DeYong; although still using pastel I now veer toward oil/acrylic and collage, painting larger urban and rural landscape, depicting buildings, not in a predictable sombre topographical manner but with emphasis on their quirkiness. At art school my academic nude studies were recognized but I was reticent in promoting more humorous, perhaps even mischievous erotica based on fables, anecdote and humanistic psychology; I hold a professional certificate in psychotherapy counselling.  With numerous art awards, teaching, lecturing and publishing experience behind me I have decided to freelance with sponsored workshops, private/corporate commissions, choosing assignments that hopefully nurture well-being, integrity and artistic independence.

 

CAREER

 

Taught & lectured on art and design ILEA & adult establishments inc: Erith College of Tech, Kent. The American Intercontinental University (ACL) Blackheath Cons. Music & Arts. Twice chair Blackheath Art Soc.  Committee member Law Soc. London group 1972-3. Steering group member Greenwich Lone Parent (GRIPP) 1984. 101 Cert. Introductory Course Transactional Analysis ITTA 1984. Lincoln Clinic Inst of Psychotherapy: Counselling Cert. ILEA recognized 1984. Area co-ordinator Neighbourhood Watch scheme 1988-9 Council member The Pastel Soc (FBA) 1982 & 1986, principled resignation 2000. Elected committee member Women in Docklands (WID) 2004. Co-Founder  Chic Canary 2006.  Mem.London Press Club.  Society of Women Writers & Journalists.   Steering Group Member Greenwich Alive 2007.   Royal Greenwich  Environment Champions Scheme Volunteer 2013.   Consumer Research Focus Group 2013 (selected)

Royal Park Greenwich First Artist in-Residence 2005-6

Listed in Debrett’s Distinguished People of Today 2013-17.   Dictionary of International Biography Centre, Cambridge UK 2017. International Directory of Professionals 2013. 'Who’s Who in Art’. 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st century IBC 2017

 

AWARDS

 

The Royal Drawing Society Exhibit Prize

Mayor County Scholarship & Draper Hall Scholar

Twice winner Law Society Art Group Special Prize 1972/3

Salon d’Antony, Paris (representative artist for borough of Lewisham) Awarded Dip, d’Honneur 1975

Winner L’Artiste Assoiffe Award 1980

The Lord Mayor’s Award Exhibition Guildhall 1975/7

Representative for London borough of Greenwich at twin town Maribor, Yugoslavia 1980

Representative for London borough of Greenwich at Reinickendorf, Berlin Germany 1982

George Rowney Pastel Award (Birmingham) 1982

Frank Herring Award for Merit 1984

Conte (UK) Award 1986

Willi Hoffmann – Guth Award 1988

Governing Board of Editors of The American Biographical Institute USA: Woman of the Year 2006

The Freedom of the City of London 2015

 

COMMISSIONS & COLLECTIONS

 

Volvo Purchase 1987

Government Commission, organized by Richard Luce MP Minister for Arts 1987

3i Commercial Property 1988

Capital & Counties 1988

OUDS Oxford University. Artist in Residence Set Design Commission -  Summer Tour Shakespeare’s As You Like It  1988

Dean Whitter International 1989

Woolwich 1989

Japan Development Bank 1990

Bruce Mcgaw Graphics  New York USA 1990

NBJ Broker Insurance 1991

Collyer–Bristow Solicitors 1992

UNICEF - short listed    Spring Rhapsody ( Xmas card painting image)

ACCO- REXEL Purchase. Invited to launch new range of pastel pencils in Cumbria & BDC London 1993

David & Charles publishers commissioned book Vibrant Flower Painting 1995

Imperial Cancer Research Fund Calendar 1991

TV Video with Marji Clark Good xxx Guide 1995

The Pastel Society 97th Annual Exhibition at FBA Mall Galleries-publicity image 1996. Council Member 1982/86

Mogul Indian Cuisine Restaurant, Greenwich, London              Greenwich view prints

DIAL-A- CAB Purchase 1999 & sponsor for London Chamber of Commerce & Industry exhibition 2002

BBC RADIO 4 Brushstrokes   radio talk with Frances Treanor; produced by Jenny De Yong 1999

BROOMFIELD HOSPITAL ARTS PROJECT COMMISSION/ Mid Essex Hospital NHS Trust 2002  The Allotment

AEG Anshutz Entertainment Group (The Millennium  Dome print) 2004

KSB LAW Solicitors 2004 @ Grant Saw Solicitors 2006

DOCKLANDS BUSINESS CLUB 20th Anniversary Reception @ Citygroup Centre Canary Wharf 2004

GRANVILLE DOMUS The Susan Williams Memorial Fund 2006

ROYAL PARK GREENWICH Ist Artist-in-Residence with solo show @ Stephen Lawrence Gallery Greenwich Univ. 2006

EMBASSY OF IRELAND in London     Painting commission, March 2009

Dr WEINBERG  Vice-chancellor, Kingston University UK  Painting commissions  April 2011

IIBN (Irish International Business Network)  'Ceanothus' painting commission  June 2014

MERIVALE DENTAL PRACTICE, London, prints 2015

BURNEY STREET MEDICAL PRACTICE, Greenwich, London, painting "Crooms Hill" 

SHOP FRONT SIGNAGE RCD of Greenwich  THE ARCADE, Eltham High Street, London  2015

PMRGCAUK 10 yr Anniversary Raffle - a signed book Vibrant Flower Painting donated by member Frances Treanor 2018

Dr WEINBERG Private Architectural Commission 2019

DAVID COOK, East India Tea Company, Private Commission 2019