Meet the duo behind Catherine Connolly’s ‘Guth na nDaoine’ art print
In August, Jill & Gill were asked to collaborate on an art print for Presidential nominee Catherine Connolly. With a tight deadline and an empowering slogan – ‘Guth na nDaoine’ – they created a print with a narrative that stands strong to Catherine’s voice and approach for Uachtarán na hÉireann.
Founded by designers Jill Deering and Gillian Henderson, Jill & Gill is an independent collaborative Irish business with an international outlook. Two designers who thrive on creating, their work is not for the faint-hearted. Their colours and prints are made to move, empower and be your creative beacon in a sea of similarity.
In true Jill & Gill fashion, this piece is no different. Guth na nDaoine is for the outspoken, the iconic, the unstoppable. The female voice has long been a force of power, protest and protection. This print doesn’t whisper, it roars!
The process began with a series of hand-pulled screen-printed mono-prints, layered into a patchwork backdrop that hums with energy. Rich textures swirl and clash, unapologetic in colour, bound only by the figure herself. From this colour emerges a strong female profile, head lifted, voice raised, confident and clear. The linework is bold and assured, with a subtle nod to Celtic designs that proudly appear across Catherine Connolly’s campaign.
The final piece, produced as a giclée print with The Copper House Dublin, has been elevated with a tactile letterpress finish, typeset and printed at Ireland’s National Print Museum. Demonstrating the value of cross-collaboration, where artists, institutions, and cultural heritage come together to spark something new.
The typeface ‘DeLittle “Gaelic”’– suggested by printer Mary Plunkett – brought this print to a whole new level, and a beautiful Irish script that can still be seen on signposts and shop signage around Ireland. It’s a reminder that innovation often comes from dialogue between old and new.
Each print has been signed by Jill & Gill and Catherine Connolly, edition of one hundred, blind embossed with the Jill & Gill stamp. It is a modern print that feels alive in the hand, not just on the wall.
Of the collaboration, Catherine Connolly has said: “I am deeply honoured by the collaboration with Jill & Gill on the limited-edition art print, Guth na nDaoine. Their creativity and vision have given powerful expression to the central theme of my campaign – the voice of the people.
“The piece captures not only the strength and resilience of women’s voices throughout our history, but also the importance of ensuring that every voice, from every community, is heard in building an equal and inclusive Ireland,” Connolly says. “I wish to sincerely thank Jill & Gill, along with The Copper House, the National Print Museum, and all who contributed to this project. It stands as a testament to the value of collaboration, of respecting tradition while embracing innovation, and of art as a living force for change.
“I am proud to add my name to this work, and I hope that it will inspire conversation, creativity, and above all, the courage to speak out. Guth na nDaoine – the people’s voice– must always be at the heart of our Republic.”
Find out more about Jill & Gill at jllandgill.com.
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