Irene Coles

"This town could do with shaking up a bit!"

- Quaint Irene Quaint Irene Coles is one of the major characters of Mapp and Lucia series created by E.F. Benson.

BBC Overview
A free-spirited, pipe-smoking, slightly scandalous ‘new’ woman, Irene dresses like a tomboy and is something of an agent-provocateur in Tilling society.

She’s flirtatious with most but has a particular eye for Lucia. From inside her studio she creates bold and colourful artwork that’s deliberately designed to stir up the town’s residents. The more shock administered the happier Irene becomes. Whilst others may flock around Mapp and Lucia’s ‘high culture’, Irene will contentedly sit on the side-lines making comment and stirring the hysteria.