About

Jackie O’Neill (B.A) is an experienced textile artist, illustrator, and the creator of Dotti Was A Deer 2012. This was her popular limited first range of light-hearted and colourful fabric and paper prints. 

She was born in Co.Cavan, Ulster in the north midlands Ireland, where she grew up surrounded by  rich culture, folklore  and mythology. She graduated in 2009 with an honours degree in Textile Design from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. She then moved to London, where she gained her initial experience with a well-known design internship at Topman and East London fashion label Nuerotica. Her print designs appeared in Topshop’s Oxford Street as part of a 2010 collection.  

After several successful years in London she returned home and has been living in her native County Cavan, where she became reacquainted with the local landscape and has been heavily involved in numerous local projects and commissions. Jackie has continued to demonstrate her exceptional work across frequent exhibitions, trade shows, and in the successful running of her own art gallery. Jackie has also led several large scale public art projects in County Cavan, which include Scealta Dar dTalun (Ballyhaise Agricultural College) 2017, Dreamscapes Art Trail 2020 (Turbet Island) and most recently, The Cavan Golden Ways art project, which is set to launch as part of Heritage Week 2020.  

Her ongoing project Home looks at the subject of Irish emigration, she speaks to Irish Diaspora all over the world and creates artwork in response to their individual stories. Through all of these projects she has worked with the people in each community by holding public workshops, gathering local knowledge, reading about the past and walking the land observing the nature. This method of research allows her to continue and develop her true passion of visual storytelling.

Jackie’s artwork is loved by adults and children alike because of its ethereal feel and how she questions the world around her. Her artwork begins with its creation through a series of watercolour, ink and pen drawings which are collaged together digitally to create her compositions, which are then finally produced as limited-edition prints. 

All of Jackie’s beautiful prints are hand signed and numbered. Her textile prints are finished with beautiful hand embroidered detail, making every single piece unique.  The story behind the work comes printed with the piece giving it that extra layer of meaning. All her available work can be seen in the shop section.

Her studio and art gallery, right in the centre of Cavan is open to the public one day a week and on the other days Jackie spends her time creating. Private appointments can be arranged with Jackie via the Contact form.

“A massive part of my process is the gathering and observing of nature and stories. They seep into my mind and grow over time into visuals. Some don't quite flourish but others develop new life on paper through line and colour. Timelines become juxtaposed, dreams and reality collide to create something new. It is something intangible! This is where we can play and explore. My wish is that you the viewer enjoy getting to know my work as much as I enjoy creating it.”