A Little Bit About Me
I’m Paula Hynes, a mixed media artist living and working in the heartlands of Ireland in beautiful County Westmeath. Born in Dublin in the 1960s, I’ve lived in Australia, Britain and several counties across Ireland before finally settling in the rural midlands over twenty years ago — a place that now deeply inspires both my life and my work.
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I came to painting later in life during a period of bereavement, simply searching for something gentle to rest my mind upon. What began quietly soon grew into a joyful and deeply meaningful creative journey, becoming one of the greatest gifts of this chapter of my life.
From Studio to frames
I work from my garden studio just outside the village of Delvin, surrounded daily by the rich beauty of the Irish countryside. The changing skies, textured fields, quiet roads, forgotten places and shifting light continually find their way into my work, shaping both mood and mark-making.
Working primarily in mixed media, I paint on wood panels, hand-stretched cotton canvases and heavy archival paper. I love the physicality and unpredictability of the process, using brushes, palette knives, old store cards, and found natural materials gathered on country walks to create layers, scratches, texture and movement within each piece. I allow drips to flow, marks to emerge, and each painting to slowly reveal its own story and history over time.
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My husband, Tadhg, works from his workshop at home through his own bespoke framing business, @TheFolksWhoLiveOnTheHill, creating beautifully handcrafted picture frames. I feel incredibly fortunate that he also makes the frames for my artwork, thoughtfully crafting each one to complement the texture, atmosphere and character of the finished piece.
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At the heart of everything I create is a deep love of the Irish rural landscape, its atmosphere, memory, quietness and emotional connection to place.