Mosaic Artist and Oil Painter
Inspired by stone, sea, and the shifting light of the Atlantic.
Working from her studio on Inis Mór, Barbara Derrane creates mosaics and paintings shaped by the textures, colours, and rhythms of island life.
Her work reflects the limestone landscape, the movement of the sea, and the quiet shifts of light that define the Aran Islands.
FEATURED WORK
A selection of recent work
From the Landscape
The landscape of Inis Mór is a constant source of inspiration - the texture of limestone, the movement of the Atlantic, and the ever-changing light across sea and sky.
BIOGRAPHY
About Barbara
Barbara Derrane is an Irish mosaic artist and painter, born and based on Inis Mór.
Working primarily with glass, smalti and ceramic, capturing the unique and beautiful terrain of the island from its breathtaking cliffs to wild Atlantic seas, grey limestone and sparkling granite boulders which come to life with the sun’s rays. She is also drawn to the colours found in nature - rare wild orchids, multicoloured heathers and mosses which cover the rocks and herbaceous grass.
Exhibitions
Alongside studies of the landscape, Barbara’s work explores the cultural history of the island.
“Within the Shawl”
A mosaic series focused on the shawls worn by island women in the 1920s - garments shaped by both practicality and individuality. The contemporary interpretation captures texture, pattern, colour, and form. The exhibition was inspired by the shawl worn by Barbara’s grandmother on her wedding day.
