Bio

Art Bio

1. Studied art in art college of Sta. Cruz, Tenerife (1984-87)
2. Attended courses in NCAD as well as a full time NCVA Art course in Dublin (1999-2000)
3. Member of Black Sheep group, showing with them in Dunleary Townhall (1999)
4. Participated in “Urban Walking Experience” showing painting in Temple Bar Gallery (2000)
5. Solo Exhibition in Davies Gallery (2001)
6. Joined Bridge ST. Studios Dundalk, showing with them in many venues, ie; RDS Dublin, Dundalk Museum, Bridge St. Galleries (2001)
7. Solo exhibition in Ardgillan Castle, Dublin (2002)
8. Joined Louth painters, showing regularly at their annual exhibition in the Museum in Dundalk. (2002-2005)
9. Published drawings in dance books and magazines (Dance, Words and Soul, by Kalichi, and the Dance Journal) (2000)
10. Added a large sculptural painting to the collection of Dundalk DKIT (2003)
11. Worked on a series of commissions exploring mythological figures (Anna Livia, Bridget of Faughart, Hockmah, Our lady of Coxes) (200-2005)
12. Co founded “Purple Circle”, a women’s painters cooperative, and showed with them in Dundalk Museum, Ardgillann Castle, Dublin and Ghan House, Carlingford . Purple Circle’s last show took place at the Olive gallery in Newry in June 200
13. Worked on a series of paintings based on the poetry of Patrick Kavanagh.
14. Held a solo exhibition in the Basement gallery, Dundalk in April of 2006 and in the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin in May of 2006. She is also collaborating with textiles artist Brigit Mc.Lean on an exhibition that explores the work of Rudolf Laban and the connections between dance and visual art.
15. Recently completed a course in Communuty Art facilitation skills and a mentoring program for artists, respectively in DKIT and with the Louth Partnership, she has received a materials grant from the Arts Council and she currently works with a team of artists in ” Arklink”, an arts centre for children in Fatima Mansions in Dublin.
16. Currently working on a large painting commissioned by the Lough Derg religious center.

Yoga and Movement Bio

1. Paola has been teaching Yoga, Meditation and body awareness for over twenty years. She began teaching in the late Eighties in Spain, with the local Yoga Association (GFU) in Gran Canaria.She then came to Ireland where she trained with the Irish Yoga Association in Dublin. She attended their Teacher Training Course between 1987-1990, and completed the course successfully.
2. She moved on to become one of the two tutors on the IYA teacher Training Course, and she tutored there for the following six years. She also started running her own Yoga classes which included four years of teaching in Portlaoise Prison, running courses for addiction clinics in Dublin (Soilse), teaching in schools, (RMDS) and in a variety of other settings.
3. During that time she trained in Counselling and NLP with IICH in Milltown Park Institute, in Dublin, qualifying as a Counsellor. She attended and completed a two-year Training course for Yoga teachers, ‘Yoga of the Heart’ with Jenny Beeken.
4. She attended meditation courses with the Dublin Meditation Center for several years, studying Buddhist meditation and philosophy and developing meditation-teaching skills. She became interested in Dance training, attending dance courses for nine years.
5. She developed a one to one practice, which combined body awareness, meditation, counselling and creativity.
6. She ran her own training courses (Deepening the practice), which were accredited by the IYA. She also started practicing as a painter, and showing her work in Dublin.
7. In 2000 she moved from Dublin to Dundalk, where she started teaching yoga at the imperial Hotel, with the VEC, in secondary schools, (St. Louis) and with FETAC as well as in DKIT. She combined her teaching practice with her art, which she continues to exhibit regularly, and with the caring and bringing up of her three children. She has just finished facilitating two Yoga courses for women\’s groups for the WAND project, run by the Dundalk Rape Crisis Center , she is teaching a follow up course with those groups following participant’s request. She is currently teaching her own gentle brand of Yoga , Movement and Relaxation in several venues in Dublin, which include community work and classes for special needs students. (See classes and events) Her facilitating style focuses on self-awareness and self-compassion. She emphasizes the importance of slowing down, clearing physical and mental space to listen to the body at a deep level. She incorporates elements of Somatics, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais method, Dance and Focusing in her teaching.

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