Exhibited in:

‘Bucolica’ Art Exhibition, Mount Congreve 2024

SBA Plantae 2024 & The 40th Anniversary Exhibition 2025.

Botanical Exhibition, Claregalway 2022, 2024, 2025

Floral & Botanical Exhibition in Bord Bia Bloom 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025

Exhibitions with the ISBA:

Eireannach – Celebrating Native Plants of Ireland 2018

Sceitse – Irish Botanical Sketchbooks 2020

Irish Native Tree Exhibition in Botanic Gardens 2023

Botanical Art Worldwide, Irish Food Crops of Ireland 2025

A PASSION for ART

by Hazel Beehan

Ever from a young age I have had an interest in Art and it has been a big part of my life since then. My Mum was always encouraging and bought me my first watercolour set when I was eleven years old. 

From the age of twelve I attended the Southlands English School in Rome for 3 years and my Art Teacher there – Miss Dawes – had a huge influence in giving me confidence in my ability for Art. Subsequently, I studied Art Education and Design at the National College of Art and Design and my painting Tutor Tom Mc Guirk was also a great inspiration in developing my potential and interest, particularly in Botanical Art. 

In 2005 I started teaching at St.Paul’s College, Raheny and I have been Head of the Art Department there since 2010. However, parallel with my teaching I devote a lot of my spare time working on my Art. I sketch, draw and paint almost on a daily basis. In addition to flowers I also like to paint animals, birds and imaginative work.

Photography is something I really enjoy – flowers, birds, landscapes, seascapes, buildings, etc.. 

I also have a great interest in Graphic Design, Calligraphy, Lino Printing and some Ceramics. I am passionate about Art in general. I find it very satisfying and relaxing.

I have always been attracted to painting flowers. Over the years I loved taking photographs of the beautiful flowers in my parents’ garden and in the many charming Gardens that we visited such as the Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, Walled Garden in St. Annes Park, Mount Congreve (Waterford), Altamont Garden (Carlow), Johnstown Castle (Wexford) and Woodstock (Kilkenny). I gathered many photographs to work from for my paintings. I love to sketch and paint with the flower directly in front of me. However, with the busyness of life this has not always been easy so working from my photographs means I have more time with the flowers.

The main two mediums that I like to work in are watercolour paints and fine liner pens. I use mainly two processes. Firstly, I sketch the flower and I paint it. Secondly, I sketch the flower and I then use my fine liner pens to create detail and texture. I then paint after that stage. I find the second process most enjoyable as I can create immense detail in my illustrations. 

Practice and the routine of drawing and painting has helped me to develop my style. Over time I started to add more and more detail to my work. My aim when I paint is to capture every detail possible of the subject. I like working on a piece stage by stage until you start to see the piece come together; layering up the paint and details. Painting gives me contentment and calmness. I can draw and paint for hours at a time.