Queenstown-born artist Ira Mitchell grew up in the mountain town of Glenorchy. Wanting to know what lay beyond the mountains and her country, it took an earthquake and turning 40 to get her working full-time as an artist and tutor.

Since then she has trained as an art teacher after completing her BFA, and is now an Artist Educator for GOLDEN art supplies company, regularly visiting the New York establishment, and working between New Zealand, Australia, and the US. 

Ira identifies her key artistic influencers as David Hockney, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar book). 

Size: 300 x 300mm and 155 x 155mm