Born in County Wexford

Phoebe Donovan is a painter born in County Wexford in 1902, she studied at the National College of Art and Design and at the Dublin Academy School.

View ‘Slieve Bhuidhe’ within the Collection

View ‘Vinegar Hill’ within the Collection

Close to Nature

“I was close to nature altogether, you could say, and I think possibly thats why I haven’t been so definitely influenced by other painters, because I was living so much in the country. I wasn’t going to the school of art at the same time as everybody elese, I was older. In some ways one just went one’s own way.”- Phoebe Donovan

Biography

• Born in County Wexford, Ireland, 1902
• National College of Art and Design, 1932
• Dublin Academy School, 1932

Solo Exhibitions

• Old Stables Gallery, Ballymore, Camolin, Permanent Display
• Stephen O’ Mara Gallery, Dun Laoghaire, 1990
• Corish Picture Gallery, wexford, 1958, ’65, ’70
• Ritchie Hendricks Gallery, Dublin, 1956
• Charles Pilkington Showrooms, Dawson St. Dublin, 1955
• Dublin Painters Gallery, 1951
• The Country Shop Dublin, 1950

Group Exhibitions

• Dun Laoghaire Arts Week, 1988
• Setanta Gallery, Dublin1977
• Graphic Studio retrospective Exhibition, 1976
• Dalkey Community Council, 1976 & 1987
• Municipal Gallery, Dublin, 1964
• Painters Group, 1961 & 1966
• Kilkenny Arts Society, 1961
• Munster Fine Art club, Cork, 1946
• Pastel Society, London, 1936
• Dublin Sketching Club, 1930
• Irish Watercolour Society, 1933 – 1997

Commissions

• Craft Council of Ireland, 1950

Selected bibliography

• Comprehensive Thesis by Anita Stedmond, NCAD, 2000
• Appreciation by George McCaw, Irish Times, 2000
• Article by Mary Corcoran, ‘Link’ Gorey Newsletter, 1998
• Irish Women Artists from 18th Century to Present Day, Brian Kennedy & Dorothy Walker, National Gallery of Ireland, 1987

Collections

• Wexford County Council
• Old Stables Gallery, Ballymore
• Self Portrait Collection, University of Limerick
• Permanent Water Colour Collection, University of Limerick
• Irish Country Womens Association