Rachel Pinel was born in Brisbane, Australia and is currently based between Florence, Italy and Bathurst, Australia. Rachel has studied at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, Australia where she was awarded the Marjorie Santow Award for best still life. She also completed a Summer School at the I. Repin St. Petersburg State Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture in St. Petersburg, Russia and is currently undertaking academic training in drawing and painting at the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy where she has been awarded three work/study scholarships.