About the Artist Ann Mitchell

 

"My portraits explore the emotional armour women wear – strength on the surface, tenderness beneath. Through layered textures and expressive faces, I paint living, breathing women whose quiet resilience carries the echoes of ancient strength."

 

Her Skin, Her Armour


A portrait series by Ann Mitchell

Available for exhibition, artist talk, and live poetry events (2027-2028)

A contemporary reimagining of Irish archetypal women through myth, memory, and resilience.

The series

Her Skin, Her Armour is a body of work exploring how women carry strength, identity, and survival through story rather than protection.

Each portrait is built through layers of oil paint, collage, pen and ink, and gold leaf. The surfaces hold scars, veils, fragments of text, and luminous metallics – suggesting armour not as something worn, but as something lived: memory, inheritance, and inner resilience.

Drawing from Irish mythology, literature, and cultural memory, these figures stand between past and present, rooted in ancient stories yet shaped by contemporary experience. They reflect women who endure, transform, and reclaim their own narratives.

The women

Medb – Power and sovereignty
Morrigan – Transformation and prophecy
Brigid – Light and renewal
Ériu – Land and belonging
The Exile – Memory and return
The Poet’s Daughter – Lineage and voice

Each portrait represents an emotional and symbolic archetype, woven through Irish heritage and modern womanhood.

Poetry in dialogue

This series is accompanied by original poetry written and performed by Will Burns, poet and writer from County Leitrim. Each poem responds directly to a portrait, creating a dialogue between image and word.

Exhibition opportunities

Her Skin, Her Armour will be available 2027-2028 with flexible scheduling to suit galleries and Cultural centre programming

This series can be presented as a standalone visual exhibition or accompanied by an artist talk and live poetry reading

If you are a curator, gallery, or cultural organization and would like to discuss exhibiting with work, pleases get in touch

 

My Artistic Journey 

Each work invites stillness and reflection, opening a space where memory, myth, and lived experience can quietly unfold beyond the surface of the canvas.

Collaborations & Gallery Inquiries

I welcome opportunities to collaborate with galleries, curators, interior designers, and creative partners who connect with my work. If you are interested in exhibiting, featuring, or working together in any capacity, I’d love to hear from you.

Please feel free to reach out via my Contact page or email me directly at [your email].

The Far Room Studio Gallery

All original artworks and limited-edition prints are created and available through my studio gallery, The Far Room, and online. This space is where my artistic vision comes to life, and where collectors, curators, and art lovers can engage with my work directly.

Available Works & Commissions

Whether you’re seeking original paintings or limited-edition prints, I offer pieces that speak to emotional depth and thoughtful craftsmanship. Commissions are welcome—please feel free to contact me for inquiries.

 

Artist CV – Ann Mitchell

Education

  • QQI Level 5 PCL in Art & Design (Distinction)

  • QQI Level 6 Advanced Art & Design (6M4029): Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Combined Materials

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Social Care

  • Qualified Personal Trainer and Life Skills Consultant

  • Five years of experience integrating mosaic art into mixed media work

Solo Exhibitions

  • Ongoing – Urban Oasis Gallery, Tullamore

  • Poets and Warriors – Laragh House, Maynooth (2022)

  • Renzo Gallery Café – Galway (2022)

  • Raw – Burgess Village (2021)

  • Third Space – Smithfield (2024)

  • Birr Theatre & Arts Centre - Daughters of Gold and Dust (2025)

  • Upcoming: Daróg Gallery Wall  (2026), 

Group Exhibitions

  • Chimera Gallery, Luan Gallery, Tilehouse Gallery (2022)

  • TOVA Cycles: I Am Not the Body, Hedgewitch, Constellations (2022)

  • Luan Gallery Westmeath Group Exhibition. Supported by Creative Ireland (2022)

  • Did You Know – with Vincent Devine (2023)

  • Sirens in All Her Phases – with Caroline Barry (2023) Portumna Castle Art Gallery 

  • The Female Gaze – with Enrique Lazzaro (Urban Oasis)

  • Esker Arts – Community Energy Charter Projection Installation

  •  Flash Art Exhibition curated by Enrique Lazzaro and seven other artists (September 2025, Kilkenny)

  • Joint Exhibition with Enrique Lazzaro, Reds Gallery Dublin (December 2025)

  • Book with art-Featured artist in the international art book and group exhibition at Groslok Gallery Bratislava (2025) 

Press & Media

Professional Roles

  • Juror, Emerging Artist Award (2025)
    Selected to serve as a juror for the Emerging Artist Award, evaluating submissions and recognizing promising talent. This role involved engaging deeply with emerging artists and contributing to the final selection during a dynamic showcase event.

Studio & Gallery

I create and exhibit my work at The Far Room — my studio and gallery nestled in County Offaly. This is where I bring to life emotionally resonant, layered portraits rooted in truth, connection, and the human spirit. The space also hosts private viewings and fosters meaningful engagement with collectors, curators, and art lovers  

Alongside this work, I am currently developing a new body of paintings exploring myth, time, and feminine archetypes.