Rita Mitchell

Rita Mitchell BA Hons
39 Long Lane, Attenborough, Notts England NG9 6BN

I trained and worked as a colourist in textile design before taking a Degree Course in Fine Arts and English. For fifteen years I ran my own art publishing business for the South Wales Tourist industry.

From 1992 I concentrated on building up my Art Publishing Business. I have published over 250 Watercolour images. In 1993 I printed my first Wales in Watercolour calendar: this was established as an annual publication. I have sold cards, prints and calendars at W H Smith, Boots and Tesco as well as Department Stores and Tourist attractions.

Now freed from commercial necessity, I draw and paint so that I can really experience the world around me. When I paint from life I am exploring reality in a way that is not possible to do merely by looking or taking a quick photograph.
Painting is essentially a journey for me. Initially, I have an idea – I let it incubate in my mind - then, when I am ready to paint, I make a start with the main colours and cover all of the canvas. The idea then becomes adjusted to the act of putting on the paint and the final outcome is always a surprise. You have to learn to let the process take over and judg...

I initially trained at Southport School of Art in the north of England and went on to work at Strines Atelier at the Calico Printers Association in Manchester. My work there was as a designer colourist.
The application of colour theory in all my paintings stems from this early experience.

1984 Lancaster University degree in Fine Art and English. Awarded 2.1 B A Hons Degree.
1986 City and Guilds Teaching in Further Education Certificate achieving a distinction in both Theoretical and Teaching Methods. I have since taught both English Literature and Art.

Since gaining my Honours Degree I have exhibited in galleries in Lancashire, Birmingham, Nottingham and Wales and have held 6 solo exhibitions in Swansea.

1990 I had work placed in the accepted but not hung category by the selection committee of the Royal Academy for their Summer Exhibition

2002 Exhibited at the Spring Fair 2002 at the NEC

2002 2004 and 2006 Solo exhibitions at Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery.

2004 Fifteen of my paintings were exhibited in Osaka, Japan after being chosen by Hankyu International.

2005 Elected a Fellow of the Nottingham Society of Artists with whom I exhibit at least three times a year.

I have original works in private collections in Australia, America and Japan and my published prints and calendars have been sent all over the world. In 2005 I published the final calendar in the Wales in Watercolour series.