A common theme throughout my work stems from my own personal journey for my search for empowerment and my place in the world.

In 2017 I created a piece of work for the Jack and Jill foundation (Hares on the March) with an Irish theme.

As I was researching the story of Estore (the goddess of Spring and new life), I was struck by the vibrancy and strength of the female characters within these mythologies and how they contrasted with women in today’s society.

However it was not until lockdown in 2020 that I got an opportunity to explore this more in-depth. It was in the same period that the Mother and baby home scandal in Tuam was breaking. It struck me how much women have been written out, not just of history but the mythology that goes with it.

In 2020 I created a series of paintings that depicted the strong female energy through our Irish legends, Ban Fienni, (Woman Warrior) Badb (Goddess of War & Death) and Bridgid, (Goddess of Life and Healing).

My inspiration for these paintings took hold as an expression of solidarity for the victims of the mother and baby homes which questioned their identity.

I was drawn deeper into the overall Irish Legends and how both women and nature played an important part of this narrative. It draws on the elements and use of symbolism that reflect on aspects of nature such as the ancient celtic knot and spirals that symbolise both the inner and outer worlds connecting with nature as well as the themes of birth, death and rebirth.

Women in Celtic mythology are displayed as strong characters very much on an equal footing with their male counterparts and I’m reflecting on the prominent place and high status women once held within the Celtic world.

My paintings are a combination of realism and abstract, focusing on the characters in a realistic style placed in an abstract setting. I use strong bold colours with texture merging different mediums, creating a contemporary and modern feel to each painting.

I am influenced by the intricate details of Harry Clarke, Pauline Bewick exquisite illustrative style and Canadian Artist, Robert Bateman for his wildlife paintings.  

Mythologies are extremely important to cultures and understanding our histories. Often histories are written to suit the current narrative and justify the existing status. Mythologies give us (or me) a chance to go back and look at what people really were focusing on and even sometimes to ponder, what might have been. 

Rachelle O’Regan is from Swords, Co. Dublin. She attended college of Commerce Rathmines, Where she graduated in Art in Industry with Honours D.I.T 1991-1994
While attending college Rachelle worked as an in house illustrator from 1990-1995.

Rachelle went on to work in the animation industries and was trained in by Don Bluth Studios in 1995 where she worked with several animation companies in Ireland & abroad.

After over a decade of working in the illustration, graphic design and animation industries Rachelle chose to change her focus to her love of painting and embark a career as a scenic artist specialising in faux finishes & the design & execution of murals for both the private & corporate sectors.She has designed several artworks & murals for a wide range of corporate & private clients including artwork for Bus Eireann and a commissioned public piano for Iarnrod Eireann 2019 to be exhibited at Galway station

Rachelle participated in the Hares on the March Public art project 2016 on behalf of the
Jack & Jill foundation.Rachelle’s design was depicted on a 3-foot tall hare sculpture was entitled Eostre -The Godess of the dawn & it was used to show case the official launch at the RDS at Artsource.It was subsequently auctioned with the proceeds going to the Jack & Jill foundation.

Rachelle O'Regan was also one of the artists involved in the Stay with me art show since December 2020. Stay with me art is a response from over seventy artist's around the world to the Tuam babies story Her artwork has being displayed in our virtual show's and in our physical show's, most recently on request from the Lord Mayor in the Mansion House.

To date Rachelle’s focus is on her private painting commissions of her canine portraiture, and a series of paintings for an exhibition that explores a contemporary interpretation of Irish mythology with a strong focus on the female identity in todays world.

Rachelle’s painting style ranges from intricately detailed canine portraiture in acrylics & oils to an abstract expression exploring different mediums using unconventional methods using bold colours & textures combining abstract with realism.

Rachelle is a professional member of Visual Artists Ireland