Mosaic Artist & Painter
Inis Mór, Aran Islands
Barbara Derrane is an Irish mosaic artist and painter based on Inis Mór, where she was born and raised. Her work is shaped by the limestone landscape, Atlantic light, and ever-changing weather of the Aran Islands.
Background & Practice
Barbara studied art at Waterford Institute of Technology, graduating with a National Diploma in Art, and later completed a Diploma in Interior Design in Galway.
Mosaic became central to her practice following her studies, and she has since developed a body of work that combines traditional materials with a personal response to the island landscape.
Materials & Process
Working with glass, smalti, ceramic, and stone, Barbara creates layered surfaces that echo the textures and patterns of Aran life. From dry-stone walls and sea-worn rock to shifting skies and the colours of the Atlantic.
Across both her mosaics and paintings, surface and material remain central, reflecting the structure and rhythm of the surrounding landscape.
Painting Practice
Alongside her mosaic work, Barbara’s oil paintings offer a more fluid and atmospheric response to light and movement.
Her paintings explore the subtle shifts of tone across sea and stone, as well as the intensity of changing skies - from quiet, muted days to dramatic, storm-lit horizons.
Living and working on Inis Mór, Barbara remains closely connected to the landscape and traditions of the islands
Her work continues to explore the relationship between place, memory, and material, drawing ongoing inspiration from the sea, stone, and sky
Exhibitions & Credentials
Barbara holds a Diploma in Art and a Diploma in Interior Design.
Her work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. She works from her studio on Inis Mór, creating original pieces and undertaking commissions.
For exhibitions, commissions, or enquiries: