ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I paint the subtleties of light, form and the details of the natural world as a quiet act of devotion — to beauty, to stillness, and to presence. My work is rooted in classical oil techniques and shaped by a contemporary realist sensibility, reflecting a lifelong sensitivity to aesthetics shaped by my European heritage. I am fascinated by the way light transforms — how it moves across a petal or catches the edge of a leaf, bringing hidden details to life and revealing something numinous, almost otherworldly. My paintings are about that moment of recognition.
In 2023, I relocated from Cape Town to the Cotswolds — a landscape that has long lived in my imagination — in search of creative stillness, a slower rhythm, a gentler pace. The countryside offers me the space to reflect, to refine, and to root myself in presence. It is the quiet backdrop that allows my inner world to expand.
In person, I’m spirited, expressive — someone who finds joy in conversation, connection and laughter. But in the studio, everything quiets. Painting becomes a space of calm intimacy — where energy softens and depth takes over. It’s where I find stillness within, and offer it in return.
The floral compositions I choose to paint are selected for resonance. I’m drawn to the lesser-seen, the fleeting, the quietly exquisite — the richness of the floral kingdom across cultures and seasons. My compositions are meditations on beauty, memory, and light — held in form, but alive with feeling. For me, they are visual metaphors for sanctuary.
I am especially interested in how my work makes people feel. I want the viewer to exhale. To pause. To feel gently grounded, yet quietly moved and inspired. Collected internationally, my paintings are chosen by those who seek more than ornament — who understand the emotional architecture of a space, and the power of art to hold it. These are future heirlooms, crafted slowly and with intention, offering quiet luxury and lasting presence in the homes they live within.
My artistic identity lies in my restraint, my sensitivity, and my unshakable belief in the sacred power of stillness — both in life, and on the canvas.
about trish
Trish Mitchell is a British–South African oil painter based in the Cotswolds, celebrated for her refined floral still lifes that explore light, emotion, and stillness. Rooted in classical realism and shaped by contemporary restraint, her work is quietly powerful, delicately composed, and emotionally resonant.
After an early career in commerce, Trish trained in classical oil painting and now works exclusively in oils — creating floral compositions that invite pause and presence. Her practice is a meditation on subtlety: luminous botanicals, pared-back palettes, and the intimate poetry of light.
Educated at Roedean School in Johannesburg — the sister school to Roedean Brighton — her formative years were shaped by an enduring connection to cultivated gardens and architectural elegance. The school’s rose garden, paired with its motto “We walk this way but once, let us beautify the path we go,” became an early catalyst for her reverence for nature and detail.
In 2023, Trish relocated to the southern Cotswolds — a landscape long held in her imagination — to immerse herself fully in the seasonal light and botanical richness that now anchor her work. Her practice is slow, intentional, and deeply attuned to presence.
Trish’s paintings have been exhibited internationally and recognised by institutions such as the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Art Renewal Center.
Her collectors — including gallery partners, designers, and private clients — seek not only visual beauty, but a sense of quiet luxury, timelessness, and emotional depth. Each painting is created with heirloom intention: to endure, to resonate, and to hold space with grace.
Learn more about my artistic journey and process
"Her paintings bring a timeless elegance to our projects, enhancing the space with their refined beauty. A true artist."