Waterford Today
16th November 2005

A collection of 200 works including tapestries, wall hangings, watercolours and sketches by renowned Irish artist Pauline Bewick is to be permanently housed in the Walton Building at Waterford Institute of Technology’s Cork Road campus from September 2006.

Ms Bewick is donating the collection - the value of which is estimated at €1m - to the State with the proviso that it be permanently exhibited in Waterford where she has chosen the recently opened Walton Building as the ideal setting.

Born in 1935 and painting since the age of two, Bewick is long established as one of Ireland’s leading contemporary artists. Based in Kerry, she enjoys international acclaim for her unique style and vibrant works which has been described as ‘Picasso-like’. Her daughters Poppy and Holly are also talented artists.

Waterford was initially proposed to Ms Bewick as a suitable location for her collection by Dr. Abdul Bulbulia of the Waterford Healing Arts Trust and Claire and Pat Keegan of Solo Arte, the gallery on the main Waterford - Tramore road which is committed to providing local access to the best of contemporary Irish and European art.

Welcoming Ms Bewick’s gift of such a large collection to the State for display at the Waterford Institute as a “magnificent and generous gesture “, Prof Kieran Byrne, Director, WIT said it arose from a genuine concern on the part of the artist to make her work accessible to the widest possible range of people.