Description
The autobiography of the man who turned plain walls into wonders. William Mitchell’s Self Portrait: The Eyes Within tells the story, in his own words, of the great British artist and designer whose public art transformed post-war Britain.
Mitchell became one of the leading figures in modern public design, creating murals, reliefs, and sculptural works that brought art to housing estates, schools, and civic buildings. His memoir is a first-hand account of an era when Britain believed art belonged to everyone. From concrete reliefs to subway murals, Mitchell’s works survive across Britain — this memoir explains the vision behind them.
For design lovers and social historians — the eyes within, finally seen. Mitchell writes with the directness of a maker, not a theorist — about materials, commissions, compromises, and the thrill of seeing a blank wall become a wonder. It is a primary document of Britain’s public art revolution. Public art’s private story, finally told.
William Mitchell’s “Self Portrait: The Eyes Within” is the autobiography of the great British artist and designer whose public art transformed post-war Britain. Written in his own words, it tells the story of a career spent turning plain walls into wonders.
Mitchell became one of the leading figures in modern public design, creating murals, reliefs, and sculptural works that brought art out of galleries and into everyday life. His celebrated Egyptian Escalator for Harrods — commissioned by Mohamed Al Fayed — remains a landmark of imaginative design, blending ancient imagery with modern craft.
The book traces his long career through themes of overcoming illness, mastering materials, and building a global influence from his workshop in the English countryside. Illustrated with his works and filled with personal reflection, it reveals the artistic vision behind a lifetime of creation.
An inspiring read for art lovers, designers, and anyone interested in public art, “Self Portrait: The Eyes Within” shows the heart of an artist who believed great design belongs to everyone.
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