John Hewitt is closely associated with artists such as Colin Middleton, John Luke and Basil Blackshaw, but his connection with Deborah Brown has never been properly explored. As a family friend, Hewitt was quick to notice Deborah Brown’s remarkable talent as a painter in the late 1940s when, shortly after leaving school, she was already achieving recognition. When she returned from Paris in 1950, having also completed her studies at NCAD, John Hewitt was a notable supporter of her work, organising exhibitions, collecting her work, and writing about it. 

In addition to looking at Hewitt’s friendship and professional relationship with Deborah Brown, the talk will also look at some of Hewitt’s interactions with other women artists in Northern Ireland from the 1930s to his departure from the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery in 1956. 

Dickon Hall is an art historian, consultant and art dealer. He has an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a PhD. From Ulster University. He has written extensively on twentieth century and contemporary Irish, British and European art, and has curated almost eighty exhibitions.