Privacy & Terms

Last updated: 1st of August 2026

Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

I respect your privacy and am committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected when you visit maireadmcguinness.com, how it is used, and your rights under the GDPR and Irish data protection law.

This website is an artist portfolio hosted on WordPress.com. As a result, most technical data collection is handled by Automattic Inc., not by me personally.

2. Hosted by WordPress.com / Automattic

This website is hosted on WordPress.com, a service provided by Automattic Inc.

Automattic automatically collects and processes certain information, including:

• IP addresses
• Browser and device details
• Cookies and analytics
• Security logs
• Usage statistics
  

Automattic acts as a data controller for hosting‑related and analytics‑related data. You can read Automattic’s Privacy Policy here: https://automattic.com/privacy/

I act as a data controller only for information you voluntarily submit to me, such as:

• Contact form messages
• Email correspondence
• Any information you choose to send directly

3. Personal Data You Provide

You may choose to provide personal information when:

• Contacting me through a form or email
• Requesting information
• Commissioning artwork or services
  

This may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Phone number (optional)
• Any message or details you include

I use this information only to respond to your enquiry or provide the service you requested.

4. Automatically Collected Data (Handled by Automattic)

Automattic may collect non‑identifying technical data such as:

• Browser type and version
• IP address
• Pages visited
• Time spent on the site
• Device type and operating system
• Approximate location
• Cookies and analytics data

This information is used for security, performance, and basic site analytics. I do not personally access or control this data.

5. Cookies

WordPress.com uses cookies for:

• Basic site functionality
• Security
• Analytics
• Embedded content (e.g., Instagram, YouTube)
  

By using this site, you acknowledge that cookies may be placed by Automattic or third‑party services.

Automattic’s Cookie Policy: https://automattic.com/cookies/

6. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For personal data you submit directly, I rely on:

• Consent — when you voluntarily send information
• Legitimate interest — responding to enquiries or maintaining communication
• Contract — if you commission artwork or request services
  

Automattic processes hosting‑related data under its own legal bases.

7. How Your Data Is Used

I may use the personal information you provide to:

• Respond to your messages
• Provide requested information or services
• Maintain records of communication
• Manage commissions or purchases (if applicable)
  

I do not use your data for marketing unless you explicitly opt‑in. I do not sell, rent, or share your personal data.

8. Third‑Party Services

Your data may pass through third‑party services used by WordPress.com, such as:

• Hosting infrastructure
• Content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Email delivery systems
• Security and analytics tools
  

These services are managed by Automattic. If you contact me directly, your email may be processed by your email provider and mine.

9. International Data Transfers

Automattic may store or process data outside the EU. Automattic uses GDPR‑compliant safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

I do not personally transfer your data internationally.

10. Data Retention

• Contact form messages and emails are kept only as long as necessary to respond or maintain records of communication.
• You may request deletion at any time.
• Hosting‑related data retention is controlled by Automattic.

11. Your GDPR Rights

These rights are provided under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Irish Data Protection Act 2018.

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Request correction
• Request deletion
• Request restriction of processing
• Object to processing
• Withdraw consent
• Request a copy of your data (data portability)
• Lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (Ireland)
  Website: https://www.dataprotection.ie
  

To exercise any of these rights for data you submitted directly, contact me at: mmcg_art@outlook.com

11.1 Automattic Contact

For hosting‑related data, contact Automattic directly at: https://automattic.com/contact/

Or email Automattic at:

General privacy enquiries:
privacy@automattic.com

Data Protection Officer:
dpo@automattic.com

Postal Address:
Automattic Inc.
60 29th Street #343
San Francisco, CA 94110
United States.

12. Children’s Privacy

Although this website is suitable for a general audience and contains no 18+ restricted content, it is not specifically directed at children. I do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under the age of 18, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 29).

The only personal information collected is information voluntarily submitted through contact forms or email. If you are under 18, please obtain permission from a parent or guardian before submitting any personal information. If I become aware that personal data has been submitted by a child under 18 without parental consent, I will delete it promptly.

Parents or guardians may contact me at mmcg_art@outlook.com for any privacy‑related concerns.

12.1 Content Advisory

Some creative writing featured on this site includes themes such as conflict, historical violence, death, grief, and spiritual reflection. These themes are presented in a non‑graphic, literary manner suitable for a G / PG / 12A audience, based on Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) guidelines. For this reason, parents and guardians are encouraged to supervise younger users’ browsing.

12.2 Children’s Safeguarding

If you are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child, please contact the appropriate authorities:

13. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact me:

Mairéad McGuinness at mmcg_art@outlook.com based in Ashbourne, Co. Meath, Ireland.

Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing maireadmcguinness.com, you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.

2. Intellectual Property

All artwork, images, text, and content on this website are protected by copyright.

You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute artwork
• Use images commercially
• Modify or adapt content
• Remove copyright notices
• Use automated tools to scrape or download content
• Use any content for AI training, dataset creation, machine learning, or generative model development

2.1 AI Protection Clause

The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Using automated systems, bots, crawlers, or scripts to collect, copy, or store content
• Using any artwork, images, text, or metadata from this website to train, fine‑tune, or evaluate AI models
• Including any content from this website in datasets, corpora, or machine learning pipelines
• Reproducing, transforming, or generating derivative works using AI systems without explicit written permission
  

Any unauthorised use of my artwork or content for AI‑related purposes constitutes copyright infringement.

3. Permitted Use

You may view the website for personal, non‑commercial purposes only.

Downloading images or content is not permitted unless explicitly enabled (e.g., press kits or downloadable resources).

4. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Attempt to hack, disrupt, or interfere with the website
• Use automated bots to scrape content
• Copy or reproduce artwork without permission
• Misuse contact forms or communication channels
• Upload harmful or malicious content
• Use any content for AI training or automated reproduction

5. External Links

This website may contain links to external sites. I am not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or accuracy of any linked website.

Visiting external links is at your own risk.

6. Disclaimer

The website and its content are provided “as is.”

I make no guarantees regarding:

• Accuracy
• Completeness
• Availability
• Suitability
  

This is a personal art portfolio and may change at any time.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, I am not liable for:

• Loss of data
• Business interruption
• Damages arising from use or inability to use the website
• Issues caused by third‑party services (e.g., WordPress.com)

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so these may not apply to you.

8. Changes to Terms

These Terms may be updated occasionally. Continued use of the website means you accept the updated Terms.

9. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Ireland. Any disputes will be handled by the Irish courts.