Marlay Park Courtyard Studios and Shops

18/10/2026

It's another lovely day and there's a great buzz in the courtyard. Lots of coffee, chat and treats😍 Do a little trail through all the artists' and craft studios. Check out my new mini collection of "treasures from many lands" with silver beads from my private collection.

17/07/2026

The planting in the courtyard is spectacular at the moment. It's the perfect spot to sit and chat over coffee and a treat! Pop in and say hello to the artists and craftspeople creating beautiful work and feel free to ask questions! See you there😊
www.originalstrands.com

16/07/2026

🎊Great to be back! Studio 9 opening times for July: Thurs 16-sun19, Fri 24-sun26 and wed 29-sun2nd.
10-5 pm 🎉🎉🎉

13/06/2026

June 16th is !

BLOOMSDAY is a day that is written about in James Joyce’s novel Ulyses where “Stately Buck Mulligan” makes his way around the coast from Sandycove to Howth.

Every year, some folk dress in Edwardian costume and reenact scenes from the famous book. [Kate Bedell's] favourite part of the book is a soliloquy by the heroine Molly Bloom where she remembers being seduced on the cliffs of Howth Head in her youth."

Read the full article on Kate's website about Bloomsday, her interpretation of Molly Bloom's soliloquy in her paintings inspired by Ulyses "Breasts All Perfume", and her portrait of Joyce inspired by Finnegan's Wake :

https://www.katebedell.com/journal

"As a visual artist, I felt the need to physically reunite the last and first sentences of the book in a patchwork of torn collage amidst the splintered shoreline of the coast, which contains the memories of my youth, as well as being the setting for many of Joyce’s works."

30/05/2026

- What are you drawing, Phoebe?
- That’s you mummy
- Aw, lovely. And what’s in my hand?
- That’s a fairy. She lost her wings and you are saving her

❤️🥲🧚🥰

20/05/2026

30/04/2026

Don't you hate it when you buy a spectacular photograph, you hang it on your wall pride of place... and then all you can see is the glass reflecting all your lights and windows? 🤠

If you're tired of squinting at and/or contorting yourself to get a glimpse of the artwork you have bought— perhaps you've even forgotten what it looks like under the glare at this stage— consider glass that cuts down on reflections and even offers some UV protection from the sun 👀

In Studio 25 (aka Kate's Gallery) my dad Gary is at the heart of our family business, helping us to seize the means of production so that we can offer beautiful prints of our work.

We frame our own work and a select number of prints that we offer have AR glass which significantly cuts back on reflections. Its like the glass melts away. It doesnt get rid of all reflections completely, but it can be a game changer.

After many years of exhibiting in the People's Park, Dun Laoghaire, we are bringing more of Gary's photographs into the studio.

25/04/2026

This is the bit people don't see... There's a reason I don't send people pictures of partial progress watercolours.

Watercolour can be an intimidating medium. There's a stage in every pet portrait where I'm well and truly in the woods and I'm not sure how it's all going to come together... until it does.

Here's a few images to show you what I mean! You can do the most perfect drawing and planning, but when you get started you need to have a bit of faith and rely on yourself to problem solve as you go. You can rehearse the painting, but every 'performance' is different.

When I approach a pet portrait, the most important thing for me to get right is the expression and life behind the eyes because it's what makes this a portrait of your pet with their individual character. It takes time to get there, and that's often where I feel the most pressure.

If you are interested in commissioning me for a pet portrait, please visit Studio 25 to chat to me or drop me an e-mail to learn more :)

[email protected]

19/04/2026

Bead making masterclasses are available in studio 9 now! Learn all the tricks of the trade while having a fun filled few hours creating your first necklace and pair of earrings! For details contact Katie at [email protected]

17/04/2026

FLASH PET PORTRAIT SALE, READ FOR DETAILS...

Claim a slot (first come first served) by commenting on this post or emailing [email protected]

I would like to open my pet portrait commissions again, but it has been some time and I am RUSTY!

I am offering 3 SLOTS for WILDCARD pet portraits of your furry fiend-- friend, I meant friend-- for 50 euro.

Please send an AMAZING photo, or results may vary.

What do I mean by WILDCARD? Well: once I've received your photo and 50 squids*, I will draw/paint your pet. The medium will be random, and I will let you know when the artwork is finished. It can then be collected from the studio in Marlay or posted to IRELAND.**

The finished art will be unframed, but given to you in a mount that will easily fit into a standard ikea photo frame. (9 x 9 inches or 10 x 8 inches).

You are essentially helping me to get back into fighting shape (and keeping on creating, you legend). Also to feed two hungry maws. (See: Bonnie and Pippin)

* I was being cute and asking for money and not actual squids, for my fellow pedants out there ✌️
** POSTAGE will cost extra depending, but collection is Free 99