Artist Biography
Jennie Castle is a Zimbabwean born, Irish artist with a background in the creative arts and Bachelor and Master degrees in architecture from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, in South Africa. Jennie arrived in Ireland in 2006 and has been working in multiple media to express her interest in the natural and built heritage of her immediate environment. A solo exhibition in Berlin: ‘Exotica Noir’ in 2010 and the design and supervision of a passive house in 2015, on a 3 acre piece of the land in rural County Kilkenny, have been recent career highlights. At a time of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, the re-wilding, ecological restoration of the land surrounding the artist’s home and studio, have provided an ecological focus to the artist’s practice. Jennie’s creative activities in annual on-site exhibitions and through social media fosters awareness of the natural world around us.
Artist Statement
Jennie is using her creative skills to depict the diversity and beauty of the native plants and wildlife that are now thriving as the re-wilded land heals around her home and studio in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The artist is developing her creative-led, ecological art practice by exploring sustainable, biodegradable charcoal and papers which can be returned to Earth once they have fulfilled their purpose. The mark making and use of light intends to capture the wildness and beauty of the native plants in Ireland using the diverse and natural medium of willow charcoal and other natural materials.
awards
2023: Agility Award (Arts Council of Ireland).
exhibitions
2024: ‘Re-Wilding IV | Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-18th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2024: Bloom Botanical & Floral Art Exhibition - ‘Creeping Thistle’, 30 May 30 - June 2, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
2024: ‘Kilkenny Sustainable Art Show'. Group exhibition - Saturday 18th May 18 - June 15 at an Chead Tine Gallery
Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street, Kilkenny opened by Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer, Kilkenny County Council.
2023: ‘Re-Wilding III | Ferns and Bracken’. On-line exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-20th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2022: ‘Re-Wilding III | Bramble’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 7-14th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2021: ‘Re-Wilding II | Butterflies’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 8-15th. County Kilkenny, Ireland
2019: ‘Re-Wilding’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-18th. County Kilkenny, Ireland
SOUTH AFRICA
1993: While attending the Pascale School of Art, work was exhibited at the Natal
Society of Art (NSA) Gallery, Durban, South Africa with artists Dennis Spalding
and Isabelle Leclesio.
1995: Exhibited paintings at the NSA, Durban, with architects Brian Kearney, Jenny
Whitehead, Roy Farren, Mary Greening and Peter Croxon. Exhibited oil
paintings on several Members Exhibitions at the N.S.A. Gallery, Durban.
2001: Exhibited at the Botanical Artists of South Africa exhibition in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
2005: Exhibited in show entitled ‘Dwell’, artSPACE, Durban with artists Jeannie
Kinsler and Louise Jennings
2005: Exhibited at the Wildlife Society Exhibition at the International Conference
Centre, Durban
2005: Participated in the ‘Affordable Art Fair’, artSPACE, Durban.
2006: Pre-view solo exhibition ‘Exotica’ at Surrey Mansions, Durban, South Africa.
IRELAND
2006/2007: Established and participated in ‘Painting of the Month’, series at CASTLERIN
Studios and Workshops, Grennan Water Mill, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.
February 2007 and January 2008
2007: Curated and participated in an exhibition of the work of the artists who had
contributed to the ‘Painting of the Month’ series, during Kilkenny Arts Festival
at CASTLERIN Studios and Workshops, Grennan Water Mill, Thomastown, Co
Kilkenny.
2007: Produced a mosaic mural (3m x 2m) for private house in Kilkenny and other
mosaic artworks such as table tops, pots, tiles etc
2008: Curated an exhibition of the work of the artists who participated in the ‘
Painting of the Month’ series, during Kilkenny Arts Festival at CASTLERIN
Studios and Workshops, in the new premises : ‘The Studio’ Bennettsbridge,
Co. Kilkenny.
2008: ‘Kilkenny Castle and Roses of Antiquity’ – an exhibition of oil paintings at
Rothe House, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny during the Kilkenny Arts Festival.
2008: Children’s community projects : external mosaic (2.4m x 2.4m) and two
external mural panels (each 4.8m x 2.4m) for Ballylinch, disadvantaged
community area, Carrick on Suir (Tipperary Council/Pobal Funding)
2009: Children’s Community Mosaic Project, Mother of fair Love, (Special Needs
School) Kilkenny (Kilkenny Arts Council/Council funding)
2009-2010: ‘exotica – exotica NOIR’ – a first solo exhibition of paintings, mosaics and
ceramics. artSPACEBerlin, Berlin, Germany, in April.
2010: ‘Summer Roses’ – an exhibition of oil paintings. Bank of Ireland, Thomastown,
Co. Kilkenny, August.
2011: Exhibition of Mosaic Mirrors using re-cycled ceramic pieces sourced from local
ceramic makers. Blackberry Café, Thomastown Co. Kilkenny, August.
2012: ‘Crème de Noir’ exhibition of oil paintings, ceramic and mosaics as part of ‘
Three Solos’ exhibition held during the annual Kilkenny Arts Festival in
August. Mc Kenna’s Arch, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.
2012: ‘Retro Fora’ - an exhibition of oil paintings at the Truffle Fairy Café,
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, August.
2013-2015: Designed and supervised the restoration of a Farm Cottage and associated
Outbuildings and the construction of own new Passive House in Ireland.
Project included artwork, paintings and mosaics.
2017: ‘Flowers’ - a small exhibition of ceramic imprints and mixed media original prints at RESTOCK, Funchal, Madeira.
2018: ‘The Inked Orchid & other Botanicals’ to be held in my new studio during the Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 12-19th.
Jennie Castle is a Zimbabwean born, Irish artist with a background in the creative arts and Bachelor and Master degrees in architecture from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, in South Africa. Jennie arrived in Ireland in 2006 and has been working in multiple media to express her interest in the natural and built heritage of her immediate environment. A solo exhibition in Berlin: ‘Exotica Noir’ in 2010 and the design and supervision of a passive house in 2015, on a 3 acre piece of the land in rural County Kilkenny, have been recent career highlights. At a time of climate crisis and biodiversity loss, the re-wilding, ecological restoration of the land surrounding the artist’s home and studio, have provided an ecological focus to the artist’s practice. Jennie’s creative activities in annual on-site exhibitions and through social media fosters awareness of the natural world around us.
Artist Statement
Jennie is using her creative skills to depict the diversity and beauty of the native plants and wildlife that are now thriving as the re-wilded land heals around her home and studio in County Kilkenny, Ireland. The artist is developing her creative-led, ecological art practice by exploring sustainable, biodegradable charcoal and papers which can be returned to Earth once they have fulfilled their purpose. The mark making and use of light intends to capture the wildness and beauty of the native plants in Ireland using the diverse and natural medium of willow charcoal and other natural materials.
awards
2023: Agility Award (Arts Council of Ireland).
exhibitions
2024: ‘Re-Wilding IV | Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-18th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2024: Bloom Botanical & Floral Art Exhibition - ‘Creeping Thistle’, 30 May 30 - June 2, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
2024: ‘Kilkenny Sustainable Art Show'. Group exhibition - Saturday 18th May 18 - June 15 at an Chead Tine Gallery
Dunnes Stores, Kieran Street, Kilkenny opened by Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer, Kilkenny County Council.
2023: ‘Re-Wilding III | Ferns and Bracken’. On-line exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-20th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2022: ‘Re-Wilding III | Bramble’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 7-14th. County Kilkenny, Ireland.
2021: ‘Re-Wilding II | Butterflies’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 8-15th. County Kilkenny, Ireland
2019: ‘Re-Wilding’. Open studio exhibition as part of AKA and Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 11-18th. County Kilkenny, Ireland
SOUTH AFRICA
1993: While attending the Pascale School of Art, work was exhibited at the Natal
Society of Art (NSA) Gallery, Durban, South Africa with artists Dennis Spalding
and Isabelle Leclesio.
1995: Exhibited paintings at the NSA, Durban, with architects Brian Kearney, Jenny
Whitehead, Roy Farren, Mary Greening and Peter Croxon. Exhibited oil
paintings on several Members Exhibitions at the N.S.A. Gallery, Durban.
2001: Exhibited at the Botanical Artists of South Africa exhibition in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
2005: Exhibited in show entitled ‘Dwell’, artSPACE, Durban with artists Jeannie
Kinsler and Louise Jennings
2005: Exhibited at the Wildlife Society Exhibition at the International Conference
Centre, Durban
2005: Participated in the ‘Affordable Art Fair’, artSPACE, Durban.
2006: Pre-view solo exhibition ‘Exotica’ at Surrey Mansions, Durban, South Africa.
IRELAND
2006/2007: Established and participated in ‘Painting of the Month’, series at CASTLERIN
Studios and Workshops, Grennan Water Mill, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.
February 2007 and January 2008
2007: Curated and participated in an exhibition of the work of the artists who had
contributed to the ‘Painting of the Month’ series, during Kilkenny Arts Festival
at CASTLERIN Studios and Workshops, Grennan Water Mill, Thomastown, Co
Kilkenny.
2007: Produced a mosaic mural (3m x 2m) for private house in Kilkenny and other
mosaic artworks such as table tops, pots, tiles etc
2008: Curated an exhibition of the work of the artists who participated in the ‘
Painting of the Month’ series, during Kilkenny Arts Festival at CASTLERIN
Studios and Workshops, in the new premises : ‘The Studio’ Bennettsbridge,
Co. Kilkenny.
2008: ‘Kilkenny Castle and Roses of Antiquity’ – an exhibition of oil paintings at
Rothe House, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny during the Kilkenny Arts Festival.
2008: Children’s community projects : external mosaic (2.4m x 2.4m) and two
external mural panels (each 4.8m x 2.4m) for Ballylinch, disadvantaged
community area, Carrick on Suir (Tipperary Council/Pobal Funding)
2009: Children’s Community Mosaic Project, Mother of fair Love, (Special Needs
School) Kilkenny (Kilkenny Arts Council/Council funding)
2009-2010: ‘exotica – exotica NOIR’ – a first solo exhibition of paintings, mosaics and
ceramics. artSPACEBerlin, Berlin, Germany, in April.
2010: ‘Summer Roses’ – an exhibition of oil paintings. Bank of Ireland, Thomastown,
Co. Kilkenny, August.
2011: Exhibition of Mosaic Mirrors using re-cycled ceramic pieces sourced from local
ceramic makers. Blackberry Café, Thomastown Co. Kilkenny, August.
2012: ‘Crème de Noir’ exhibition of oil paintings, ceramic and mosaics as part of ‘
Three Solos’ exhibition held during the annual Kilkenny Arts Festival in
August. Mc Kenna’s Arch, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny.
2012: ‘Retro Fora’ - an exhibition of oil paintings at the Truffle Fairy Café,
Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, August.
2013-2015: Designed and supervised the restoration of a Farm Cottage and associated
Outbuildings and the construction of own new Passive House in Ireland.
Project included artwork, paintings and mosaics.
2017: ‘Flowers’ - a small exhibition of ceramic imprints and mixed media original prints at RESTOCK, Funchal, Madeira.
2018: ‘The Inked Orchid & other Botanicals’ to be held in my new studio during the Thomastown Creative Arts Festival August 12-19th.
