Pauline Halton, A Life in Art

26 August 1963 to 24 March 2021

“Ever since, I was three all that was in my head was I wanted to be an artist.”

Pauline Halton was an artist who lived at Rose Cottage, Kilnaleck, Co Cavan. She painted the world as she saw it and as she wanted it to be. She was deeply connected to place and the natural beauty that she saw in everything.

Tiny lady birds were painted with the same love and affection that she lavished on her paintings of John Brady’s Cottage, Kiltyclogher Church, the Quay at Ballyvaughan, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, hens, sheep, cats and her home at Rose Cottage.

“I paint all the beauty that surrounds me. I feel all my work as a collection would be the history of this road and the Crover road. My inspiration in life is from around here. I have painted all the ranges, windows, stairs going up, hens and exotic birds. I got my inspiration right here. It was like a dream place.”

In the words of Cliodhna Shaffrey, director of the Temple Bar Gallery, “Pauline Halton is the Patrick Kavanagh of Kilnaleck, she is queen of every blooming thing.”

For the Pauline’s family, her many friends and the wider arts community in County Cavan her death on 24 March 2021 was a deep loss. It was a privilege and a joy to have known Pauline and shared her journey. Pauline Halton’s life was a celebration of living through art.

Cavan County Council Arts Office and Cavan County Museum would like to thank the Halton Family and all who contributed to the making of this video, created during Covid 19 and in particular to Alan Bradley for his support with editing it.