©1-3 Violine Deane, 4: Anke Marquardt

I don’t consider myself an artist—or maybe just a little bit, as I love creative writing and experimenting with different projects. Since starting my Foreigners of Greystones features, I have even wondered whether I would enjoy being a hobby journalist.

But whatever I call it—blogging, hobby journalism, or even art—The Foreigners of Greystones is a true passion project. I truly enjoy hearing and writing these unique emigration stories.

To me, “real” artists are people like Kris, with her amazing mosaics whom I introduced in one of my previous features, and Violine, whom I am writing about today. Originally from France, Violine’s art couldn’t be more local or characteristic of Greystones. With Violine Sea Craft, she has created something entirely original, beautiful, and innovative.

Art in her Blood

     
1: Florence Bertin, Taradeau   ©1&3 Courtesy of Violine Deane, 2&4: Anke Marquardt

Violine grew up surrounded by art. Her mother, Florence, is an artist who creates sculptures out of various materials—a legacy that undoubtedly inspired Violine when she launched Violine Sea Craft last year. Like her mother, Violine works with diverse textures, using natural materials she collects from local beaches. “I have fond memories of collecting treasures from nature as a child,” Violine says, “which I am now doing as a mum, together with my three boys.”

Violine Sea Craft

There seem to be real treasures hidden in the rough sand of Greystones beach. At least, they become real gems once Violine transforms them for her pebble art. Her creations feature driftwood, shells, sea glass, and, of course, pebbles. These raw materials are cleverly reimagined as seagulls or lovebirds perched on wooden poles, looking out to sea. In other pieces, couples stand admiringly around the cradle of their newborn little “pebble,” or whole families lean into each other, watching a flying kite in the sky.

The sky truly seems to be the limit when it comes to Violine’s creativity. Simply by looking at the different shapes and colors of her materials, she instantly envisions how to bring them to life.

I have already gifted three of Violine’s pictures to my own family and friends. While the repertoire of Violine Sea Craft is vast—containing motifs for almost every family dynamic or milestone occasion—Violine tailor-made these specific pieces for me. That extra personal touch was deeply appreciated by the people who received them.

Every picture is unique and 100% Irish. Alongside her website, Violine sells her framed art and jewellery at The Boatyard Gallery Greystones, Amora Gifts & Jewellery in Bray and on local markets throughout the year.

Violine Sea Craft ©Courtesy of Violine Deane

From Provence to Greystones

Moving to Greystones when her eldest son was just a year old—in order to be closer to her husband’s family—suited Violine perfectly. This was well before the days of her pebble art and Violine Sea Craft. “I fell in love with the place,” she says. “It was ideal for the connection and love I have for nature. Besides, I love sea swimming. Could there be a more perfect place than Greystones?”

Yet, the place of her childhood sounds equally idyllic when Violine describes it. “I grew up on a goat’s cheese farm in Taradeau, which is a small village in the south of France, surrounded by vineyards and Herbes de Provence,” she explains. “The hills around the farm are covered in wild thyme, rosemary, and oregano. There are a lot of local food producers and farm markets selling wine, olive oil, honey, and more. St. Tropez and the Verdon region, with its lavender fields and stunning lakes, are probably more famous. Taradeau sits right in between.”

A Good Reason to Leave

While it is hard to imagine why someone would leave a dreamlike setting like Provence, I find it incredibly uplifting how fondly my Foreigners of Greystones speak of their home countries. It is rarely a case of growing tired of the places where they grew up. For most of them, Ireland was initially meant to be a short adventure with no intention of staying for good. But—as we Foreigners of Greystones know all too well—this island has its very own magic. Even when you were raised on a picture-book farm in the south of France.

  
©1: @lucortiz_photoesie: 2&3 Courtesy of Violine Deane

Foreigners of Greystones Don‘t Quit

Violine came to Ireland in the summer of 2003 to improve her English. “My English was very poor. I worked as a waitress in a café. The pronunciation was so different from the English I had learned in school. I really struggled to communicate and work was very challenging due to my limited English skills,” Violine recalls.

Fortunately, the Foreigners of Greystones don’t give up easily—a trait I’ve noticed across all of the fellow local “blow-ins” I have interviewed so far. Despite the language barrier, Violine stayed in Ireland longer than she had planned to, because she loved the country. “A couple of years later I met my now Irish husband and have no plans to go back to France. I lived in Dublin first, then moved to a few places in the south of Dublin before settling in Greystones about 4 years ago.”

It has been nearly 18 years since Violine set foot on the Emerald Isle for the first time. You wouldn’t believe she struggled with her English at first when you hear her now. She is beyond fluent with a very light, charming accent.

“Easy-going and Welcoming”

Apart from the language, Violine didn’t have any difficulties settling in or meeting locals. “I have been lucky to meet many lovely people in Greystones—in my neighborhood, in playgroups, and at sea swimming. Everyone here has made me feel integrated into the community. I have always loved that about Ireland, but even more so in Greystones”, Violine says. “The Irish are easy-going and welcoming.”

And I think we can’t deny that there is definitely something about Irish men, too. In the same way the Irish weather is the common negative denominator for most of us Foreigners of Greystones, the Irish males seem to be tipping the scales in favor of Ireland over our home countries.

And we all were drawn to the little gem by the coast that Greystones is—for one reason or another. With her art, Violine quite literally transforms little gems found in Greystones into something special and individual. Despite her roots in beautiful Provence, she now frames the coastal magic of Ireland and is happy and content in doing so.

©1&3: The Conscious Camera; 2&4 Courtesy of Violine Deane