early 20th century stained glass artist, harry clarke, whose work bowe rediscovered in various irish rural churches, was the subject of bowe's doctoral thesis in 1982. her first book on clarke was published in 1983. her investigation into clarke's life and work was the beginning of a long career of comprehensive research into the arts and crafts movement in ireland. bowe's influential book on the life & work of harry clarke, first published by irish academic press in 1989, "re-established the reputation of this exceptional irish artist of the early 20th century".