Mitey Roche spent her childhood in Berkshire, England; the youngest of a large, artistic family. Her father, poet Paul Roche was an intimate friend of The Bloomsbury Group Artist Duncan Grant who, especially towards the latter part of his life, lived and worked for long periods at a time in the Roche household. Mitey also spent summers at Grant's farmhouse in Sussex, Charleston, (now The Charleston Trust) drawing and painting by his side in his studio where she learnt her first skills as an artist. \

" I used to spend hours watching him paint - absorbing his technique; how he chose and mixed his colours and how he worked on the whole painting at a time, bringing to life with his brushstrokes every corner of the canvas, 'til it would almost dance, even if it were just still life."

Mitey Roche studied for her foundation at St. Martin's School of Art in London and for her B.A at Parsons School of Design in New York. She returned to London where, (including a brief period in Los Angeles), she lived for several years.


She began to travel extensively around Southeast Asia and India, compiling an archive of ideas, drawings and photographs before moving to the island of Mallorca where she set up a studio and continues to live and work.

 
 

"For the most part my technique is oil on canvas because I like the effect of building up subtle layers of colour - the more you work oil, the richer it becomes - you can achieve a translucency which I love. One of the reasons I was attracted to Mallorca
was for the quality of light, although I do not limit myself to just The Mediterranean. My paintings are inspired by my travels from all parts of the world. I have been particularly influenced by India and more recently Egypt. My aim is not to depict an image, a landscape or a seascape for what it is in itself but to reflect the emotion it evokes - my paintings being a mirror to the soul and an amalgamation of energy, the subconscious and the metaphysical which I try to reach through colour, light and movement and hopefully a touch of magic."

While always continuing to paint, Mitey also enjoyed success as an actress, working in several BBC Television productions and culminating her acting career by originating the role of Dusty
in "Party Time" written and directed by Harold Pinter at the Almeida Theatre in London.

She has also written and illustrated two books, published in Calcutta: "The Adventures of Suki" and "Swifty & The Lamb" - the latter about her six month sojourn in India with her father.

"All forms of art are linked, whether it be painting, acting, writing or sculpting. As long as you're creating from within, pushing your imagination to the full and exploring unknown territory, you are expressing the essence of art, whatever the medium.One experience can only enrich another. I work subliminally and painting, through its vibration and colour, lets me unleash the subconscious."

Mitey Roche's work hangs in several private and corporate collections in Asia, Canada, U.S.A and many parts of Europe. Collectors include The Orient Express Group of Hotels, Richard Branson, Pedro Serra, Hotel La Residencia and H.R.H. Princess Michael of Kent.


Bibliography:

Clemency Chatham, 'Magical Reflections', Island Life Magazine
Pilar Ribal, Cultura, El Mundo / Dia de Baleares
Angela Alfarro, 'En Orbita', Radio ONA Mallorca
Marga Norguera, 'En Boulevard', Radio ONA Mallorca
Ross Benson, Daily Express
Michael Billington, Review/Arts, Country Life
Michael Billington, 'Party To Dissent' The Sunday Times
Maureen Patton, Theatre, Daily Express
Robin Stringer, Evening Standard
'Spotlight', Vogue Magazine
Nigel Demster, Mail on Sunday
Radio Times

All types of commissions accepted.
Paintings are oil on canvas, original and unique.

Mobil Telephone : +(34) 686 181 932