“Her work is a wonderful blend of words and images, a reflection of daily life endured with the strain and struggle of illness but at the same time a tribute to the beauty of the everyday.” Katherine Collins. Creative Waterford
Artist and Writer Corina Duyn has been publishing books for twenty years. Hatched-a creative journey through ME was published in 2006, and is being re-published as digital book Hatched re-hatched in early 2026.
Her book-in-a-box Into the Light (2015) contains collected quotes from a great variety of authors, artist and researchers about illness, disability, and life. The Invisible Octopus video poem (2020) is described by Réalta as “an extraordinary and succinct illustration of life with ME.” With her latest book In bed I cut words (2024) Corina again explored life with ME in all its stark truths as well as the reality of life in full time residential care. It won CAP awards for Independent Authors in 2025 under anthologies.
Some books along the way were more light hearted like the fairy tale Cirrus Chronicles (2009); Flying on Little Wings (2011) a beautiful the tribute of the wisdom of the birds; and the family memoir Snapshots (2017).
With the support of Creative Waterford – Creative Ireland’s Creative Communities Programme, all Corina’s books will now be made available to read on her ISSUU https://issuu.com/littlewings account.
All books and for many the research material and proof copies can be viewed at Corina’s Creative Archive at Réalta Centre for Arts+Health.
For more details about each book, see links below.
In bed I cut words (2024) consists of a small selection of collages which Corina Duyn created on her bed in the nursing home between April 2022 and April 2023. These were spontaneous, intuitive responses to the artist’s situation of life in care while life is severely curtailed by ME and through the collaborations with some beautiful minds along the way.
Invisible Octopus (2020) “is a poem, a story, an animation, of a life triumphant under the weight of a debilitating illness ME, of a woman whose words are her lifeline, an inspiration to others.” Dolores Ronayne, Poet. The poem has also been published in ‘Blij dat ik besta’ by Dutch Publisher Tobi Vroegh.
Into the Light (2015) is an Artist Book-in-a-box. It holds a series of loose sheets with reflections on life with illness, but applicable to many of life’s challenges. Fear, hope, acceptance, society’s attitudes, the power of creativity and moments of gratitude are all explored. Each sheet has an image of Corina Duyn’s stunning nature photographs or her imaginative art. Also a short quote from other authors. This book was shortlisted for the CAP Awards 2016.
Snapshots(2017) edited by Corina Duyn is in both English and Dutch- Nederlands in one volume. Although it is a book about one family, it has many universal elements: about the challenges of life, but also about resilience, creativity, and joy.
Flying on Little Wings (2011) is a tiny book with photographs and words of wisdom from the birds in her garden.
Cirrus Chronicles- Landing in Ballynelligan (2009) is a Modern Day Fairy Tale, for all ages. It follows the adventures of Cloud Fairy Cirrus when he accidentally lands in a field in Ballynelligan (Ireland).
Hatched– a creative journey through ME (2006) is a distillation of 8 years of writing, a process that helped the author to come to terms with a debilitating illness ME. Her poetry and images allow us to glimpse her sense of humour along with strength of mind. This book is being republished as digital book Hatched -re-hatched in digital format on ISSUU – Little Wings.
Little Wings Creative ArchiveCorina’s 30 year Little Wings art archive, including the physical books, and preparation material to create the books, can now also be explored at Réalta, Centre for Arts + Health in Waterford.
Corina’s Little Wings Blog holds many a thought and exploration of her life, observations, questions, about nature, life, illness, puppetry and everything in between. Please visit Blog and type in any topic in the search box.