'Hedgerow & Wayside'
Native Plants of County Kilkenny
Thank you for visiting the exhibition during
the Kilkenny Arts Festival | AKA (Alternative Kilkenny Arts)
which took place from 7-17 August 2025
in Rothe House, Kilkenny City, Ireland.
We were overwhelmed by the response to the work
and hope the experience, images and sounds of our native flora and fauna
will leave a lasting impression upon you......
Visitors' Voices
'Such a beautiful, considered collaboration and such a gorgeous shout out and reminder of our living neighbours.'
'A gentle and sensitive resonance to our natural world.'
'I love the combination of paper, pen and wild.'
'So inspiring to see the plants brought to life and honoured.'
'I’m leaving with goosebumps after enjoying your beautiful pieces'
Visit my Instagram account for more images of the exhibition....
https://instagram.com/jenniecastleartist
Native Plants of County Kilkenny
Thank you for visiting the exhibition during
the Kilkenny Arts Festival | AKA (Alternative Kilkenny Arts)
which took place from 7-17 August 2025
in Rothe House, Kilkenny City, Ireland.
We were overwhelmed by the response to the work
and hope the experience, images and sounds of our native flora and fauna
will leave a lasting impression upon you......
Visitors' Voices
'Such a beautiful, considered collaboration and such a gorgeous shout out and reminder of our living neighbours.'
'A gentle and sensitive resonance to our natural world.'
'I love the combination of paper, pen and wild.'
'So inspiring to see the plants brought to life and honoured.'
'I’m leaving with goosebumps after enjoying your beautiful pieces'
Visit my Instagram account for more images of the exhibition....
https://instagram.com/jenniecastleartist
Jen Castle with Rosebay Willowherb Installation
'Rosebay Willowherb Installation'
'Hedgerow & Wayside'
Native Plants of County Kilkenny
Elephant Hawk Caterpillar, the Rosebay Willowherb and the Elephant Hawk Moth.
This installation captures 'one of the most exciting natural cycles to experience in our native biodiversity'
Biodegradable materials of willow charcoal and egg yolk tempera have been applied to diaphanous Abaca paper, created by Papermaker Polly Minett of Papermakers Ireland, to portray the fragility of this cycle.
Break a piece of this cycle and the whole is lost forever.
Native Willowherb is the only foodplant of the Elephant Hawkmoth.
The installation is in the bay window of 15th century Rothe House, a Kilkenny Merchant House in Ireland .
A collaborative exhibition between Environmental artist Jen Castle, Papermaker Polly Minett, Musician and Composer Kate Powell and the native Flora and Fauna of County Kilkenny, Ireland.
7-17 August 2025
Rothe House, Kilkenny
Open daily 10 - 6
www.rothehouse.com
' Hedgerow & Wayside'
Native Plants of County Kilkenny
Now open!
7-17 August 2025
Rothe House, Kilkenny
Open daily 10 - 6
Dog Roses at Dawn
The Wild Dog Roses, entwined in the thick hedgerows at an Speir ARK - the rewilded land surrounding my home and studio in Ireland - is a lovely sight each Summer. I especially like the light in the late hours of the Summer dawn when the flowers seems to glow and contrast with the background light.
Visit:
https://instagram.com/jenniecastleartist
Welcome to my website!
My artwork explores the context, structure and details of the native plants which are growing on the land surrounding my sandstone studio and home in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The land, named an Spéir ARK, was once a field for grazing sheep and has been left to regenerate or re-wild itself. The native plants are drawn and painted with sustainable charcoals, coloured pigments and egg tempera. All materials are biodegradable and can be returned to the earth.
Willow charcoal and coloured pigment and egg tempera artworks
Creeping Thistle Illusion
(Feochadán reatha)
was selected and exhibited at the Bloom Botanical and Floral Exhibition at Phoenix Park, Dublin from 30 May - 23 June 2024. Creeping Thistle is a native Irish plant which is much maligned and classified as a Noxious Weed. It provides food and a habitat for many pollinators, including native butterflies. The artwork has been created with willow charcoal powder, coloured pigments and egg tempera on Fabriano paper. These materials are both sustainable and biodegradable and the artwork can be returned to the Earth at anytime.
Wild Teasel (Leadán úcaire)
Willow charcoal, coloured pigments and egg tempera on Fabriano paper. The materials are both sustainable and biodegradable.
Willow charcoal, coloured pigments and egg tempera on Fabriano paper. The materials are both sustainable and biodegradable.
Willow Charcoal and Coloured Pigment Tempera on Fabriano Paper
'Hyacinth'
Willow Charcoal on Fabriano Paper
Willow Charcoal on Fabriano Paper
Bloom Botanical & Floral Exhibition, Phoenix Park, Dublin
June 2023
10th Annual Claregalway Botanical Expo, Claregalway Castle
August 2023
June 2023
10th Annual Claregalway Botanical Expo, Claregalway Castle
August 2023
'Keep it Wild'
365 days 365 biodiversity drawing diary
an Spéir ARK, Ireland 2022
Visit my Instagram page to see all the pages of this diary...
https://instagram.com/jenniecastleartist
365 days 365 biodiversity drawing diary
an Spéir ARK, Ireland 2022
Visit my Instagram page to see all the pages of this diary...
https://instagram.com/jenniecastleartist
Sunday Irish Independent: 1st January 2023
Copyright All rights reserved Jennie Castle Artist
