John Mitchell 'Projected Fibonacci Cube' 2000, Technical Drawing on Paper

John Mitchell (1943-2014)

Projected Fibonacci Cube, 2000

Original technical drawing on paper

British artist John Mitchell (1943-2014) developed a fascinating body of work exploring the relationship between mathematics, geometry, painting and sculpture.

Born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, Mitchell studied at Kingston College of Art before establishing a career as both an artist and an influential teacher. His first solo exhibition was held at Camden Arts Centre in 1972, followed by exhibitions at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham and Galerie Swart in Amsterdam. In 1978, he was awarded the prestigious Gregory Fellowship at the University of Leeds, a position previously held by artists including Terry Frost and Trevor Bell. He also exhibited at London’s Serpentine Gallery.

From the 1960s onwards, the Fibonacci sequence became an important influence on Mitchell’s work. This mathematical progression, in which each number is the sum of the previous two, provided him with a system for investigating proportion, repetition and the relationship between two and three-dimensional forms.

Projected Fibonacci Cube, dated 2000, is a particularly interesting example of this approach.

Drawn on graph paper, the work resembles an architectural or engineering plan, with carefully measured lines, geometric projections and overlapping forms. Mitchell uses the language of technical drawing to investigate how a three dimensional structure might be constructed and understood through a series of two-dimensional projections.

What makes Mitchell’s drawings particularly interesting is that they occupy a space between mathematical investigation and independent works of art. Rather than simply illustrating an idea for a sculpture, the drawing becomes another way of exploring the same questions about proportion, space and form.

Mitchell spent much of his later life working from his home and studio overlooking Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall. His work continued to explore geometric relationships through painting, drawing and sculpture, often developing numerous variations from a single mathematical idea.

This drawing was acquired from John Mitchell’s Personal Collection & Studio Sale, held by Lay’s Auctioneers in Penzance in August 2026, when an extensive collection of works from the artist’s studio was brought to auction.

Artist: John Mitchell (1943-2014)
Title: Projected Fibonacci Cube
Date: 2000
Medium: Technical drawing on paper
Origin: United Kingdom
Provenance: John Mitchell’s Personal Collection & Studio Sale, Lay’s Auctioneers, Cornwall, August 2026
Presentation: Framed