Maureen

A Painter and Printmaker’s Labor of Love

El Gallinero artists’ and writers’ refuge is a labor of love of the Anglo-Spanish painter and printmaking maestra, Maureen Booth. Maureen was originally a painter, but in 1979 she was awarded a grant to study for two-and-a-half years at the etching studio of the Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation in Granada. There she worked under the guidance of the maestro, José García Lomas.

In subsequent years Maureen has enlarged and refined her printmaking repertoire, exhibited all over the world and held print workshops both in her own studio in a village outside Granada and around Spain and Portugal, and one in Yugoslavia. In 2007 she established Pomegranate Editions to edit both her own prints and that of a select group of clients.

Over the years Maureen’s printmaking courses have captivated participants from all over the world and many of them have returned to repeat the experience. (See some of their comments near the bottom of this Print Workshop Central page.)

The Gallinero´s original building was her first painting studio when she arrived in Granada, built on the site of a former chicken yard (hence “Gallinero,” “Chicken House”). Last December and January (2009-2010) she had it enlarged, renovated and converted into a 50-square-meter suite with relaxing and evocative space for sleeping, working and socializing.

Its tall wooden ceilings, richly varied natural lighting, comfortable eclectic furnishings, and five-and-a-half-meter-long work bench inspires creative guests to do their best work.

The few artists who have spent time in The Gallinero are already planning to come back for more.