Fire Head Painting

Emily Mitchell is a Cotswold based artist and psychotherapist. Emily’s abstract work is an exploration of consciousness, born from a deep connection to her personal and professional exploration of the self as a complex, multifaceted system. 

The textured, bold paintings are not merely expressions of emotion or form, but rather, they serve as visual representations of the various parts within each person—distinct yet interconnected elements of the psyche that continuously interact in differing ways. 

 The textured surfaces of her paintings are key to conveying this complexity. She often builds layers of paint, scraping back, adding more, letting colours overlap and merge, much as the different parts within a person’s psyche influence and affect one another. Some areas are rough and chaotic, representing internal struggle, while others are smoother, signalling moments of cohesion and integration. Her process is deeply introspective, beginning with an awareness of a specific internal dynamic—the unconsciousness, a tension, a protective impulse, or a wounded aspect seeking expression. The boldness of the palette mirrors the intensity or particular energy connected to these inner experiences, as different parts are possibly fighting for attention or attempting to coexist. The result is a snapshot of a particular moment in time, capturing the exact state of interplay between the parts of the self as they exist in that instant.

 Through her art, Emily uses herself as a vector and invites viewers into this intimate exploration of self, offering a window into the universal experience of internal multiplicity. Her paintings are deeply psychological in nature, capturing the ongoing, layered process of self-understanding and integration that defines the human experience. Each painting is a moment of transformation, both for the artist and, potentially, for those who experience her work.