Born in St. Andrews, O’Donnell is an award-winning Scottish painter currently working on the series of paintings and frottage, 'SURFACE WORK 2017-2021'. After 18 years of professional practice in Northern Norway, she now has her studios in Spain and Scotland.
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O'Donnell makes work with a subtle minimalistic approach, the subject being the process of making it, inextricably linked to the concepts and actions of limitation, restriction and repetition. 'Systematic and meticulously planned works resonate with surfaces created by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal.' Her works are notable for their perfect finish and tactile nature. This is of great importance and bears witness to her concern for craftsmanship. Works are in major collections including The Scottish Office, North Norwegian Museum of Art, and The Norwegian Arts Council Collection. Recent exhibitions include a.topos International Curatorial Collective, Venice and 'Artist Stories’ with The COCA Project 2021. In-depth articles and interviews are featured in contemporary art magazines including, ART Habens Review and Art Reveal Contemporary Art.
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With a Masters in Contemporary European Fine Art, she is an accomplished lecturer and curator, and parallel with her own art practice, spent five years as Director of Galleri NordNorge, the Gallery of Northern Norway, collaborating with museums and galleries such as the National Museum of Art in Oslo, showing work by Paul McCarthy, Norway 10 Designers and established international artists, while providing a platform to emerging. She has many years of experience on the boards of industrial, commercial and creative organizations such as NNBK (North Norwegian Artists’ Union), Innovasjon Norge's Creative Development Project, and the Foundation of Sierra de Libar in Spain. Sitting on collection committees of Sparebank1 NN Art Foundation and art consultant for KORO, Norway's department of art acquisitions, she has had the honour to commission artwork and contribute to advancing the careers of Norwegian artists.