How the brief was fulfilled

Begley & Bowie is an art and fashion brand that I set up in 2019. I wanted to create a contemporary and fun form of Irish design, working with vibrant colours and sustainable materials. As an illustrator and screen printer I wanted to create both fine art prints and wearable art whilst celebrating colour and the history, people and places of Ireland.
From beginning with a pop-up shop in 2019, I opened my first store at 16 Henry Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry in July of 2021. For the last two summers I have been invited to take part in Brown Thomas Create. For this year’s Create I wanted to show the two facets of my brand by screen printing a collection of sweatshirts for Brown Thomas here in my studio in Kenmare, based on a five layer fine art print of mine, and as an illustrator I illustrated a cultural map of Dublin which was printed on a range of clothing.
From the outset I had hoped to collaborate with other creatives and brands and I have had a lot of opportunities in the last two years. Since launching I have collaborated with and I have been commissioned by JJ Corry Whiskey, Marlowe & Co. in Dublin 8, ISG Ladies Football Club, Ensemble Mhúscraí Youth Orchestra in Cork, Kenmare Rowing Club, Sweet Pea Dingle, Lip’s & P’s Boutique in Naas and all to design clothing. I approach this work as if I am telling a story through art. Earlier this year I worked with the Trump Hotel in Doonbeg. In March I was commissioned by the Adare Manor Hotel to design hotel merchandise for children, ladies and men in time for the Pro-Am in July. This was a very exciting project to work on and I was given access to the hotel and grounds to work on the design. One of my favourite designs on this project were my
children’s range which I based on the Teidí sculptor on the grounds created by sculptor Patrick O’Reilly. I have also just completed a collection of clothing for Dromoland Castle in Co. Clare in time for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, based on the history of this amazing hotel.