Olympia McEwan

Olympia is a visual artist living and working on the small island of Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. Born in southern Africa in 1971, Olympia came to live in the UK with her family, aged seven. She attended secondary school in Guernsey, then went on to study Fine Art, graduating with a BA(Hons) in 1993. Olympia combines her portrait painting with her passion for the natural world. “Both subjects are a joyful reflection of my love for people and their stories, as well as the beauty of nature and its fragility”.

Olympia has had several exhibitions on the island, including a solo museum show in 2018, called Amazing Women! Yellow Chair Portraits. This was a celebratory show of fifteen portrait paintings, all of women from within the community, who contribute to the happiness and welfare of islanders, as well as the lives of many in communities further afield.

In 2020, Olympia curated the book, In Living Memory, published by Blue Ormer and championed by Dame Mary Perkins. Olympia invited various contributors to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Channel Islands; including “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” co-author Annie Barrows, world renowned artist and proud Guernsey-man Chris Foss (Dune, Superman, Alien, Flash Gordon and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) plus Professor Gilly Carr, author, Cambridge University Senior Lecturer and founder of the frankfallaarchive.org . “Heartfelt stories and images, together commemorating the freedom we enjoy today.” Dame Mary Perkins

In early 2022, during the first week of the illegal invasion by Russian in Ukraine, Olympia set up the facebook initiative, called Art for Ukraine. More than 30 artists joined the campaign to raise money for medical aid, and collectively raised over £10,000. Every penny went to the charity SAMU (www.SAMU.es).

It was also a great honour for Olympia, to have her In Living Memory book presented to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as a gift from the island on Liberation Day, 9 May 2022, during their visit to Castle Cornet.

In May 2023, Olympia held her Ecosphere solo show at the National Trust of Guernsey / Art at the Park gallery. This was the culmination of four years worth of her nature paintings. The main focus being her love of wild flowers, their pollinators and the fragility of the natural world.

Olympia’s current public art project is called 7WOMEN. These seven inspirational women, from many walks of life, have all changed the world we live in. Together they form this celebratory collection of portraits, culminating in an exhibition in the Great Hall at the Royal Court building in Guernsey. These women have led their professions, broken new ground and inspired change through their relentless endeavour. “I chose them all for their outstanding achievements.”