Ruby Jack Meets: Bebhinn Eilish
In our Ruby Jack Meets series, we shine a light on the creatives that inspire us - and here, we’re thrilled to introduce Bebhinn Eilish—a dynamic artist whose work is deeply rooted in Irish mythology, folklore, and feminist thought. Bebhinn’s captivating mixed-media pieces combine vivid imagination with a raw, honest exploration of themes like family, trauma, and cultural identity, creating art that’s both haunting and empowering.
Bebhinn's creative journey has been shaped by her experiences growing up in a female household, where her love for storytelling and Irish folklore was nurtured. In our interview, she opens up about her artistic process, her ongoing tarot deck project, and how her feminist views are woven into her powerful visual narratives. Bebhinn’s work invites us to explore the intersection of mythology and reality, creating spaces for introspection and transformation.
Hi Bebhinn! Your work is deeply influenced by Irish mythology and folklore. How do these themes shape your artistic vision, and what aspects of Irish culture do you find most inspiring in your creative process?
What a perfect question - great timing! I’m currently prepping to take part in Inktober again this year and I have chosen to focus on some of my favourite Irish mythical beasts! Irish folklore, since I was young has inspired wonder and magic within me, along with absolutely terrifying me lol. I think every Irish child had fears of hearing/seeing the Banshee.
There are many reasons why I love Irish folklore; it is Ireland's best preserved expression of our beliefs, our superstitions, and how we lived/what we worshipped as Irish people. I also love the portrayal of strange, strong, and terrifying women. Female gods and Mythical beings show a culture where women were central to society, in positions of power, and were regarded as the essence of all life. These powerful women and devious tricksters like the púca are a big muse for me in my work. Talk about an abundance of inspiration!
I’m not great with words, hence why i’m a visual artist - so if you’re keen to see my vision and interpretation of these characters I will be highlighting 20 of my favourites this October.
Feminism plays a significant role in your art. How do you integrate your feminist views into your work, and how has your experience growing up in a female household influenced your artistic expression?
I often question if my work translates how I feel when making it. If my work can really be considered ‘Feminist art’ rather than a Feminists artwork, if that makes sense? For me Feminist art should challenge the dominance of men, the assumptions people make about womanhood, cultural taboos that surround the female and the female body, and enable people to discover and acknowledge how we all interact within oppressive systems and structures. It should inspire introspection and the dismantling of misogynistic beliefs, incorporate themes like race, class, privilege etc. The Feminist art movement gave/continues to give female artists a voice. It helps all women to see and to speak their truth, and give hope/claim their autonomies.
All of this is my intention in the development of my work, something I am consciously moving towards - which I see as a direct result of my upbringing in a female household. My journey through womanhood in a female household was extremely liberating and empowering, not something I fully realised until I got older and shared discussions with other girls and friends who didn't have that same experience and comfort growing up. Even with the embarrassment of early adulthood and all that comes with it, my home was always a space where nothing felt taboo or shameful to talk about, this is something I’m extremely grateful for. My mam was an absolute force, extremely resilient, supportive - the person people would go to talk about literally anything knowing they wouldn't be judged or cast aside. I'm biased because I'm her daughter but seriously, what a fucking woman, I miss and love her more than anything in this world. She is definitely the source behind my work.
What’s your earliest memory of creativity?
The majority of my earliest memories are of creating art. When I was two I drew an image of a lion with a big scribbly mane, years later my mam told me that was the moment she knew I was destined to be an artist. My mam kept folders of all of my drawings, some I remember creating and others I don’t, and most make me laugh so hard. One year me and my sister found a scroll I had made for the Easter Bunny which you’d think would be so wholesome and sweet (especially if you knew how quiet and polite I was as a child) but no… this letter/drawing is practically threatening - telling the Easter Bunny that he has to wake me up so I can see magic eggs 'OR ELSE’ hahaha.
I have always been surrounded by and created art from as early as I can remember. It informed my sense of self when I was young and since then i’ve never been able to identify myself beyond that.
You’re working on an 'Etheric' tarot deck, which we can’t wait to see! What does spirituality mean to you and how does the art of tarot reading compliment your beliefs?
This tarot deck is literally years in the making but I promise it’s coming ASAP! This deck is a promise I made to my 15-year-old self so I won’t let her down!
Whether I tune into it or not, I have always felt inherently spiritual. My mam rejected catholicism after her experiences growing up in a very religious home, and discovered her beliefs were more aligned with pagan ones - having a reverence for nature and life and not sin. Because of this, I have always had an inspiring sense of spiritual mystery and have always been drawn to the idea of magic being woven into ourselves and the world around us. Tarot is a small tactile extension of my infatuation and connection to a higher power. Also for tarot/witch skeptics out there, if you don’t believe in the divine guidance of the cards, at least it offers you a different perspective and you can use it as a tool to better understand yourself and your surroundings. Get excited about the unknown!
Your creative practice seems to blend seamlessly into your daily life. How do you manage to maintain this constant creative flow, and do you find it challenging to set boundaries between work and personal life?
I think people reading this could view this as a positive, but trust me, it’s not. I am either a hyper fixating lunatic or a spacey disorganised mess that needs to stare at the walls for a while. My whole world seems to revolve around my creative practice and thankfully my loved ones understand that’s just how I am and are there for me, whether it’s to encourage a hangout or event so that I don’t allow myself to get completely swallowed by my practice. Unfortunately if you’re reading this and hoping for advice on maintaining a creative flow I’m not your girl, and thankfully that’s not my issue but what is my big issue is exactly what you pointed out - boundaries!!! What are they? And how long have I promised myself I would figure that out. If anyone has any tips, send them my way!
You’ve spoken about an 'incessant impulse to create.' What strategies do you use to manage burnout or the need for a creative reset?
I think I experienced real serious burnout once. It sticks out so obviously when I read this question. It was after my first solo show and the comedown hit me hard, I don’t think I picked up a paintbrush for months after that. Although I didn’t feel like painting I had enough of feeling uncomfortable doing nothing. As you’ve probably gathered from my previous answers, I find it hard to identify myself beyond being a creative and I find it hard to live a life without my creative practice. Even when I’m watching a film or spending time with my family or friends, I’m thinking about creating. It’s not about waiting until I have a sensational idea that I need to bring to life, but just the act and the tactility of making. Do I constantly create work I like or I think is good? Definitely not. Do I sit and wait for inspiration to move me to the page? No. I just feel driven to do it. Put pen to paper, make a start - and if it’s shit, its shit. Give yourself time to play, that’s all you need. And if you’re really struggling or doubting yourself, the best tip I can give you is to read and refuel. Read about Mythology and Folklore. If you’re not even the least bit inspired after that, then sorry you might be broken hahaha.
As an artist who feels unstoppable and uninhibited, what are some future directions or new mediums you’re excited to explore in your work? How do you envision the evolution of your artistic practice?
Recently I delved into performance art with Array Collective. Last summer and this summer, I took part in their residency in the Pyrenees mountains where we explored performance art together. It’s not something I imagine doing in front of large groups of people, but it was so beautiful and interesting to see how my work translates - a total physical understanding of my work that I have never experienced before. For anyone reading this who like me, never even considered performance art, please, please give it a go! It’s terrifying, exactly what you need to evolve.
I have also left some very loved mediums on the back burner, either because of cost or time. I explored ceramics very briefly after spending years building with paper mache and I instantly fell in love. I promise to revisit ASAP. I also really want to learn to make jewellery. Sketches of silver pendants live in my notebook that I hope to bring to life in time through wax carving. Making an artistic film is another one on the to-do list - my partner is a filmmaker so I really have no excuse, I just need to actually do the fucking work.
Honestly the list goes on. I’m curious and intrigued by all creative practices, and in complete awe of artists creating through mediums I’m not familiar with, so thank you - and to Ruby - your works are absolutely stunning, I actually can’t believe I get to adorn myself in your gorgeous work!
Which Ruby Jack pieces are you wearing and what made you choose them?
I am wearing Water For Elephants hoops and chain, and oh my goddess, they are so gorgeous and ethereal and precious! It was so difficult to choose from all the beautiful pieces but honestly, these just speak to me and I’ve been drawn to Opals since I was teenie-tiny. It’s extremely rare I wear gold. Typically it’s reserved for a special occasion as I wear a lot of silver jewellery every day, but since I got my hands on Ruby's work, it’s been difficult even to part with the pieces while I sleep! Thank you for your precious creations Ruby. I will treasure them forever.
What is the most important piece of creative advice you have ever received?
I was sitting on the question the longest because I can’t recall something someone has personally said to me that moved me entirely - but my mind kept circling back to Rick Rubins The Creative Act: A Way of Being. The entire book is filled with everything you need to hear as a self proclaimed creative or not. When I was first reading the book I was sooo in my feelings - everything felt like a gift and resonated so deeply. Early on he says: "The ability to look deeply is the root of creativity. To see past the ordinary and mundane and to get to what might otherwise be invisible." This was just so validating and powerful to read as someone who feels so tied to grief in their work. If you haven’t already read this book, take this as your sign. It has something for everyone.
Who or what are you creating for, other than for yourself?
When I read about Hilma af Klint's understanding of why she creates, I felt I understood her. She believes that she was in contact with a higher consciousness that spoke and expressed messages through her artwork. I find this philosophy, almost like ideas are separate entities to ourselves that get channeled through us, really fascinating.
I mostly resonate with this idea when I’m notebooking, envisioning myself as a vessel that transports ideas to the page. My notebooks don’t often reflect my fully formed artworks, and they’re not something I share with people - they feel really intimate, mainly because I write a lot of gibberish in them.
To answer this plainly, I of course feel that my artwork is created firstly for women. I want women to feel seen, heard, unashamed, powerful, and to inspire people to unlearn their misogyny so that together we can build stronger foundations for women and women’s rights. I’m in need of a shift at the moment, in my way of working and I plan to move forward with more intention - asking myself questions like this, and exploring different mediums and ways of working. Lastly, I feel like I’m creating for my mam - all my works feel like an ode to the feminine power she bestowed upon me. I just want to make her proud, even though I know I don’t have to try.
