More About Olwen
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