Olwen was born in Dublin, Ireland and emigrated with her family to the United

States. She grew up in Malibu, California and Dublin, Ireland. Her primary

inspirations in art are Richard Diebenkorn, Turner, Homer, and Joaquin Sorolla.

Olwen paints images in oil and watercolor of the West of Ireland, as well as North

Chester, where she lives in the Berkshire mountains. She is also a printmaker in

intaglio, drypoint/monotype, and is a member of the Zea Mays Printmaking

Studio and the Monotype Guild of New England. Olwen has been a member of

the National Association of Women Artists and is currently a member of the

California Society of Printmakers, The Boston Printmakers, Monotype Guild of

New England and the Hilltown Arts Alliance.

Olwen’s paintings are in private collections in the United States and Europe. In

recent years, she has exhibited at the James Joyce Centre and the Hallward

Gallery in Dublin, Ireland; Smith College Alumnae Gallery, Hosmer Gallery, and

the Watkins Gallery in Northampton MA. Olwen’s intaglio artwork is represented

by the Zea Mays Flat File Project, and her print work has been represented in

group shows at the APE Gallery in Northampton and the Ferrin Gallery in

Pittsfield, Massachusetts. At the Lenox Gallery, Massachusetts, Olwen received

Honorable Mention in the Fem in Art Show. Olwen has also worked for over two

decades in the professional theatre in production and has designed scenery and

backcloths for theatrical productions. Olwen has been producer, managing

director, production manager, and stage manager for professional theatrical

institutions, as well as, director of the Northampton Center for the Arts. She

graduated as a Studio Art Major with a minor in Biology from Smith College in

Northampton, Massachusetts. Olwen has also studied at the L’Ecole d’Art,

Vallauris, France and the Sun Valley Arts Program in Hailey, Idaho. Olwen is

currently represented by her own gallery in North Chester, Massachusetts and

works as an arts consultant. Olwen lived for ten years in Cleveland, Ohio where

she was production manager at The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival and

helped move the company from downtown Cleveland to Playhouse Square as

well as guiding the first 8 ½ hour U.S. production of The Life and Adventures of

Nicholas Nickleby as it was presented in Chicago.

Olwen has been privileged to be a returning artist in residence at The Tyrone

Guthrie Centre in Autumn of 2023 and is privileged to be a past artist in

residence and fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts last Spring