Join us for this reception to mark the opening of the exhibition and the publication of Nell Regan’s new poetry collection, Thirty-Six Views of the Sugarloaf which will be launched by poet by poet Moya Cannon. All welcome.

Inspired by 19th century artist Hokusai’s celebrated wood block prints of Mount Fuji, and early Japanese poetry, this collaboration between poet Nell Regan and late artist Cathy Henderson offers images of the iconic Wicklow mountain by Henderson, with letterpress prints of Regan’s words by Mary Plunkett, marking the publication of Regan’s new poetry collection, Thirty-Six Views of the Sugarloaf (Arlen House, 2026).

Regan and Henderson began this joint project over 10 years ago, aiming to create a set of artworks and poems drawing on the landscape of Co Wicklow’s Sugarloaf mountain. Collectively the works would draw on the aspects, moods, archaeology, art and dinnseanachas of the mountain as well as ‘all those lives lived about the peak’, including those of the author and late artist. However, the project was prematurely suspended following Henderson’s death in 2014.

Two years ago Nell Regan returned to Sugarloaf to complete the poems and now, with the help of the Henderson’s husband, David Gregg, a selection of Henderson’s Views are exhibited for the first time and presented here with Regan’s completed collection of poems.. These include artist proofs of huge woodblock prints, study photographs, earlier Sugarloaf paintings as well as print blocks. They give a glimpse into her process and the interrupted ambition of the project, presented here with Regan’s completed collection of poems.