About Irene Appleby Barthe - English Mixed Media Artist in France
My Artistic Path
From the rolling moors of Yorkshire to the warm light of southern France, my artistic journey has been anything but straight. In my early twenties, I followed the call of colour to art school, then spent years teaching and travelling, absorbing landscapes and cultures across Cyprus, Thailand, Australia, and beyond. For a while, life pulled me from painting, but the urge to create never dimmed. When I returned to the canvas, it was with hands full of stories, and a heart newly attuned to the quiet poetry of nature.
From Observation to Connection
Nature is my muse, my language, my constant. From riverside walks and forest shadows to windswept fields and hidden mountain trails, I translate these moments into layered, mixed media works, using acrylic, oil, ink, collage, pastels, and touches of gold leaf. Whether delicate or bold, every mark seeks to honour the emotional landscape of the natural world. My latest collection, the Connection Series, deepens this dialogue, exploring how nature soothes, grounds, and connects us not just to the world around us, but to our inner terrain.
A Journey of Colour and Curiosity
As a child, I was endlessly drawn to colour and texture. I’d become mesmerised by balls of wool in every shade imaginable, tubes of buttons, and rows of ribbons and threads forming rainbows across market stalls. I’d gather glistening, pearlised shells on the beach, wander through fields of yellow rapeseed and forests of bluebells, forever chasing colour and pattern. My mother, wisely dressing me in the brightest clothes she could find, ensured I was never lost for long. That early fascination still lives in my work today, layered, tactile, and full of colour.
Your Experience – A Shared Journey
🌿 For Explorers of the Soul:
“My work speaks to those who crave depth and discovery—it brings that spirit into your everyday space.”
🌿 For Nature-Lovers Seeking Stillness:
“Let your walls reflect the peace and presence that only the natural world can give.”
🌿 For Joy-Seekers:
“Each piece is a celebration of simplicity, serenity, and colour, a reminder of life’s gentle pleasures.”
Biography
Irene Appleby Barthe was born in Yorkshire, England, and grew up in a mining town before heading to Cornwall to study Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art. She graduated in 1997 with a BA (Hons) and later earned a teaching diploma and a Postgraduate Diploma in Painting in Cyprus. Now living in the South of France with her husband and two children, Irene continues to create, teach, and exhibit. Her work lives in private collections around the world, and she was recently awarded the Henry Martin Prize for Painting by the Languedoc Academy in Toulouse, France.
Teaching and Guiding
Alongside my studio practice, I teach and guide other artists who feel stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed by the noise of the art world. My approach is grounded in decades of making, unmaking, and returning.
I believe creativity thrives when we feel safe enough to explore, and brave enough to be honest. This philosophy shapes both my artwork and the courses and gatherings I offer.
