Siân Quill
Siân ’s career originally began as an actor. She performed in plays in theatres all over Ireland and she was a founder member of the women’s theatre company, Glasshouse Productions. After completing a Masters in Journalism, Siân started writing for television. She is proud to be one of the scriptwriters on RTE’s long-running drama, Fair City. She also writes for children’s TV, most recently for Cartoon Saloon’s animated show, Silly Sundays. Siân writes fiction and poetry for adults and children. She is currently writing a stage play, Soap Sisters. Her play will have a rehearsed reading in the Mermaid Arts Centre in December 2026. Siân lives with her two adult children (and their bonkers dog, Teddy) in Bray, Co Wicklow.
Toni Smith
Born and raised here in Greystones, Toni enjoyed an idyllic Greystones childhood. She cartwheeled her way through school in St David's with a passion for all sports she went on to PE college at Ulster University.
After a couple of years living back in Greystones and working in Loughlinstown, Toni married John from College who was living in the Cotswolds and headed to England to manage leisure centres, then work in public health in the NHS.
Months turned to years and years. Regular trips home to Greystones with their two children to be with family and friends were Toni's oxygen.
Toni was diagnosed with MS two years after moving to the UK but it was easily manageable for many years. However in 2018, when the MS decided Toni's life would be easier in a wheelchair, she gave up work and looked for new experiences. Toni channelled her creativity in gymnastics and sport into more sedentary past times and discovered she could paint! Painting Greystones scenes in acrylics allowed Toni be home across the Irish Sea from her easel in the Cotswolds.
In 2024 Toni started planning for her permanent return to Greystones. Now back for good Toni sees her Greystones scenes in real life every day. She has just moved into her newly built wheelchair accessible home a few weeks ago where she has the space to get painting again.
Tonis journey into painting:
I never ever painted. Was told by Sr Regina in my one year doing art that I wasn't very good! There wasn't an artistic bone in any of my family. However as a child I was always looking for the sellotape and scissors to 'do' stuff. I just didn't know what and how to do it. So I was probably a frustrated artist. As an adult I loved painting old furniture and learning decorative painting techniques but never viewed that as proper painting.
Bored and probably traumatised at having to come face to face with my deteriorating health I started colouring in . I loved that. Then when a friend had been on a weekend art course I asked her if she fancied doing a six week mixed media course. I didn't even know the difference between watercolour and acrylic! We signed up and after four weeks I painted my first Greystones Cove painting. After three or four more I decided I would get cards printed from my paintings. And that kicked off my painting life . I painted most days transporting myself to new and old Greystonesi and beyond.
Just through word of mouth I began selling my paintings and then I asked some businesses if they would stock my cards and calendars. Fiona Roche pharmacy, The Village Bookshop, Spendloves. Then COVID hit and I couldn't get back home, Coolnagreina, the only wheelchair accessible accommodation was sold and the impact of Brexit on my ability to post my paintings to Ireland meant everything changed for me. It felt like as one door closed then another one slammed in my face!! Until I realised the answer is to move back home for ever! So began a journey with a lot of manifesting! But I did it. Back home in Greystones I was renting and had no space to paint. Yet I was so happy to be home and wanted to express my gratitude through art. I had joined Open Door - a Day Centre for people with neurological conditions. With their help I created a massive collage of gratitude using prints of my paintings.
And now that I'm in my new wheelchair accessible bespoke build new home I can start painting again