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In the summer of 1953, Waddington held a group show of ‘Contemporary Irish Painting and
Sculpture’. Campbell, O’Neill and Dillon participated, as did Campbell’s mother, Gretta.
Born on New Year’s Day, 1880, she had found gouache material in her home, left by her
son, Arthur, and she was encouraged by her sons to exhibit her works with Waddington.
Waddington also organized for her to be included in a group exhibition, ‘Painters From
Ireland’ at the Obelisk Gallery, Washington, D.C in 1954.
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Reverting to her maiden name,
Bowen, held her first solo show withWaddington in 1956. Her naïve work recalls scenes from
childhood, encompassing memories of sporting events and scenes depicting the Broadstone
terminus, Phibsboro where her father was superintendent on the Midland Great Western
Railway. In 1954, while Campbell was having his third solo exhibition at Waddington’s,
O’Neill and Colin Middleton held a joint show at Tooth’s in London.
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Other artists included George Campbell, Gerard Dillon, Daniel O’Neill and Nevill Johnson.
fig.122: Tom Caldwell and Gretta Bowen
at her exhibition
fig.123: George Campbell with Gretta Bowen
fig.124: George and Madge Campbell with
Gretta Bowen
fig.125: George Campbell helping his Mother
hang her paintings for an exhibition