Olympia McEwan

REPRESENTING, INSPIRING, CELEBRATING.

My 7WOMEN exhibition is kindly sponsored by Deloitte Guernsey. The exhibition is open to the public on 8th March, International Women’s Day, Saturday 9th March 11am - 2pm, and will be open Monday to Friday thereafter, during working hours until Thursday 21st March. It will be held in the Great Hall foyer of the Royal Court. It is a public exhibition with no entry charge and is fully accessible to all.

“Let’s populate our public spaces with more portraits and stories of notable women.”

Seven inspirational women, from many walks of life. All have changed the world we live in, through a variety of fields. Together they form this celebratory collection of portraits.

These women have led their professions, broken new ground and inspired change through their relentless endeavour. I chose them all for their outstanding achievements.

My 7WOMEN include the internationally renowned Scientist, Prof Josephine Arendt, a prominent campaigner for gay rights and equality in the Church of England, Jayne Ozanne, the first female member of the House of Lords from the Channel Islands, Baroness Pitkeathley, co-founder of The Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, Jo Priaulx, the first female H.M. Procureur & Crown Officer to the States of Guernsey, Megan Pullum KC, international singer songwriter, Nessi Gomes, and co-founder of Specsavers, Dame Mary Perkins.

The aim of this project is threefold. Firstly, it’s a showcase for my latest portrait paintings, in my series of amazing women, which first began in 2018. Secondly, I’d like the space to be used for various local groups and schools to gather and discuss how to inspire women of all ages to realise their potential. And finally, to promote the need for portrait paintings of notable women, in public spaces in Guernsey. This is a personal campaign, as well as a public art project.

Local radio studio documentary with Steph Watkins. 26/01/2024

Local radio interview with Jim Delbridge - countdown to the opening. 02/03/2024

“My voice has been my biggest companion in life and it has helped me through many difficult moments and so I want to share that with people.”

Born in Guernsey to a Portuguese family, Singer-Songwriter Nessi Gomes channels influences from both sides of her ethnicity, blending the essence of the traditional, emotional and ‘larger than life’ Fado folk music with British progressive modern inspiration.

Her acclaimed debut album Diamonds & Demons was released in October 2016 and received huge media attention and radio support in Europe and the UK. She has since played in 30 countries including major festivals and stages.

In parallel with her recording career, she created the Vocal Odyssey workshops through the experience gained from studying music therapy at university. Her retreats encourage participants to meet with the spirit of their voice. Thousands have already experienced the process under her guidance. She has continued her Vocal Odyssey workshops switching to online through Covid, and continues touring around the world.

In January 2024, Nessi played two sell-out concerts at St James – her first performance in the island in six years. She told the Guernsey Press that one of the biggest influences on her music was her home island: “It’s being by the ocean. The elements. The drama of paradise, of nature. It’s food for my soul”.

“No matter how much homework I had, the tomatoes must be picked, packed and sent away, and this simply could not be put off. Consequently I have a strong ‘get it done’ gene and never miss a deadline.”

Jill Pitkeathley (née Bisson) was born in Guernsey in 1940. She left the island for a university education and worked in a range of social care roles until becoming Chief Executive of the Carers National Association, for which she was awarded an OBE in 1993.

In 1997, Tony Blair invited her to become a working peer, and she was appointed to the House of Lords as Baroness Pitkeathley of Caversham – the first woman from the Channel Islands to sit in this chamber.

Since then, she has served as Chair of the New Opportunities Fund, and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

Among her current roles are Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords and President of the Channel Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Amongst her proudest achievements has been giving a voice to the UK’s six million carers through her work at the Carers National Association (now known as Carers UK).

Jill claims her action-oriented pragmatism springs directly from her upbringing in Guernsey.

“Just listen to her reeling off the answers during a States debate – she’s like a walking wikipedia for Guernsey.“ Laura Clayton, Bailiwick Express.

Megan Pullum was appointed HM Procureur and Receiver-General in 2016, the first woman to hold a Crown Officers’ position in Guernsey.

Following a legal career in the UK, Megan was called to the Guernsey Bar in 2006, where she initially worked in private practice.

She was appointed Queen’s Council in 2012, HM Comptroller in 2012, before her promotion to HM Procureur in 2016.

The office of HM Procureur is an ancient one which dates back to the fourteenth century, appointed by the Crown. As Guernsey’s Attorney General, Megan is legal adviser to the States Assembly on constitutional and legal issues and rules of procedure. She is also responsible for drafting new legislation to implement the resolutions of the States, as well as representing the States in Guernsey’s Courts and the prosecution of criminal cases.

Megan is also on the Editorial Board of the Jersey and Guernsey Law Review and has lectured and examined on various public law issues for aspirants to the Guernsey Bar.

“The field has lost one of its shining stars. A pioneer, a trail blazer!” Prof. Debra J. Skene, University of Surrey.

Josephine was born in Yorkshire during World War 2, and her family moved to Guernsey after the war, where they initially lived in the Seaplane Bungalow at Jerbourg.

Following an education in Guernsey at Ladies’ College, she went on to study biochemistry at University College, London. When she graduated, she worked in London and then moved to Geneva where she spent twelve years in various research roles, where she became interested in the science of sleep.

She returned from Switzerland to the UK and rose to the position of Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Surrey.

Jo spent most of her career studying the effects of melatonin and light in humans. Her work led to ground-breaking advances in our understanding of sleep – including the use of melatonin to alleviate jet-lag; helping blind people and shift-workers keep their internal rhythms in sync and discovering the use of blue light to treat seasonal depression. She also worked with the British Antarctic Survey to devise new ways to help workers in Antarctica adapt to the unusual light conditions.

Over her career she published over 300 papers which appeared in every major science journal as well as articles for newspapers. She also wrote the standard textbook on her subject.

Josephine died unexpectedly in Guernsey in September 2023.

Interview with the Prof’s colleague Prof Debra Skene

In November 2003, Jo Priaulx gave birth to daughter Danniella five weeks early by emergency caesarean section. Following this traumatic experience – and a similar experience with their first child, Sebastian a few years earlier – Jo and husband Andy decided that they wanted to help other families going through a similar experience – and the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation was born.

Over the last twenty years the charity has gone from strength to strength. They started by raising funds for an incubator and other specialist equipment at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Since then, the PPBF now proudly owns a trio of flats next to Southampton Hospital for parents of babies or children requiring off-island care.

Despite its original name, the charity has extended its remit to help critically ill children.

Amongst the accolades for their achievements have been the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015, the highest honour for a charity, the Guernsey Community Foundation’s Fundraising Team of the Year in 2016.

Over the years hundreds of people have contributed their efforts to fundraising events, which has benefited thousands of families, with well over a million pounds raised thanks to Guernsey’s generous community. Ongoing fundraising - especially for the upkeep of the PPBF’s UK flats - will remain a priority as the charity continues to keep families together.

“The truth shall always set you free. Please know that you are loved, you are loveable and that you are wonderfully made, just as you are!”

Jayne grew up in Guernsey and left the island to go to Cambridge University. She started her career in international consumer marketing with Proctor & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark and the BBC before moving into the charity sector.

Jayne has a deep Christian faith which led to an intense inner struggle for her to come to terms with her sexuality. She willingly consented to undergo ‘conversion therapy’, which sadly led to two spells in hospital and various breakdowns. After finally coming out she experienced a significant backlash from many of her Christian friends, which fuelled her resolve to become a passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights in the Church of England.

Her articulate and personal accounts of the impact that conversion practices have, particularly on young people, makes her one of the most powerful and influential international campaigners on the subject and has won her a large following amongst religious and non-religious leaders alike.

Jayne established the Ozanne Foundation to work with religious leaders around the world to tackle prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity. She is also the founding Chair of the Ban Conversion Therapy Coalition. Over the years she has served on the Archbishops’ Council, the General Synod of the Church of England, and the UK Government’s LGBT+ Advisory Panel.

In 2019, she met Pope Francis, which led to her launching the Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives. She is regularly interviewed on national media on LGBT+ issues.

“I am extremely proud to be Everywoman’s patron and part of such an amazing group that so actively promotes the merits and talents of women and the vital contribution they make to the economy.”

Mary Bebbington was born in 1944 in Bristol. From there she went to Cardiff University to train as an optometrist. Whilst there, she was one of only five women on the course – and it was there that she met Doug Perkins, who she would later marry.

Mary and Doug opened their first business in Bristol in the 1960s, which they grew into a successful chain, before selling up and moving to Guernsey.

In 1984, they famously established Specsavers on a table tennis table in their spare room – and within three years it had grown into the largest privately-owned opticians in the world.

Amongst many accolades, she was awarded a Super Achievement Award in 2003, an Honorary Fellowship of Cardiff University and was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2007 for services to business and charity. In 2017, she received a national lifetime achievement award at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year UK Awards in London.

As well as her ongoing hands-on involvement in running a multinational business, she still finds time for charitable work.

She is patron or trustee of 28 charities and was Chair of the Guernsey 2023 Island Games Committee.

One charity of which she is Patron is Everywoman, which seeks to advance female careers. They created an award ‘Spirit of Everywoman’ especially for her, as they didn’t think she properly fitted into any of the other categories.

As well as her campaign work for more portraits of women in our public spaces, Olympia takes private commissions for any occasion, celebration or commemoration.

Olympia has been taking portrait commissions for over 20 years now. She works in oil paints on either canvas or board, depending on the size and scale of the piece. Her style is realistic and relies on close observation of the sitter, their manner and personality.

How to commission a portrait

You can discuss commissioning a portrait with Olympia, by going to her CONTACT page. Olympia works from photographs as well as from life. Bespoke framing can also be arranged.

Terms & Conditions

A deposit of 50% of the total value will be invoiced at the beginning of the process, and the remaining 50% will be invoiced on completion.

All sketches and photographs taken remain the property of the artist.

The artist retains copyright ownership and the right to include the portrait in her portfolio, website, printed marketing materials and on social media. However, anonymity will be maintained should it be requested.