Meet the artist

Hello! My name’s Joanna. I’m a mixed media artist, originally from Northern Ireland, living and creating art from my studio in Italy.

I've been creative for as long as I can remember! In 2006 I graduated with a degree in Design from the University of Ulster in Belfast. Initially, I started my creative journey making and designing bespoke collections of jewellery. In 2017, I returned to my love of drawing and painting, and I haven’t stopped!

Inspired by patterns in nature, I create detailed, hand painted, abstract artworks which echo my connection to the world around me.

Portrait photograph of mixed media artist Joanna Ritchie in her home studio in Italy.

My Story

I’d like to take you on a journey, from the rolling hills of Northern Ireland to the snow capped mountains of Italy.

Landscape photo of a sunset over green fields with a view of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland.

Born and bred in the Northern Irish countryside, little did I know that in 2018 I’d be swapping these lush green pastures for a new adventure further afield.

Landscape photo of mountains and olive tree fields in Northern Tuscany.

The first stop on my adventure was Northern Tuscany. I spent a year living in the rural village of Luscignano, emersed in the mountainous and olive tree filled landscape. Being off the grid was heaven for a country loving girl like me!

Landscape photo of mountains, hills, olive trees and vineyards in Fregona, Italy with a view of Bosco del Cansiglio and Monte Pizzoc in the distance.

In September 2019 I changed regions, moving east to Veneto, where I spent five years living in Vittorio Veneto, before moving to the hills of Fregona in 2025.

With inspiring places like Cansiglio Forest and the Dolomites literally on my doorstep, I’ve truly fallen in love with this part of the world that I now call home.

My inspiration

I’ve always felt a deep connection with nature, and in my free time, I enjoy nothing more than a walk in the woods, a swim in the lake or a hike in the mountains to relax and gather inspiration.

Landscape photo of Joanna Ritchie standing at a sign in the heart of the snow capped Dolomite mountains in Italy.
Landscape photo of a sunset in Scrabo Country Park in Northern Ireland with Joanna Ritchie taking a photograph on her phone.
Portrait photo of Joanna Ritchie smelling a bouquet of pretty blue flowers.
Landscape photo of snow patterns created by wind on Col Visentin in Italy.

I’ve always been drawn to details and patterns, and this is something that I’ve leaned into more in recent years. Just as I have evolved as a person, so to has my artwork.

I originally started off creating botantical illustrations, but now my art has adopted a more abstract style with a focus on intricate details like shapes, movement and colour, which are inspired from the natural patterns in the world around us.

Work in progress photo of an abstract artwork created by mixed media artist Joanna Ritchie.
Macro photo taken through the lens of a microscope of veins on a green leaf.
Work in progress photo of an abstract artwork created by mixed media artist Joanna Ritchie.
Close up photo of sand patterns created by the wind on a beach in Veneto, Italy.

I mainly use watercolour in my art practise, but I also like to experiment with other mixed media techniques.

In my most recent artworks, as well as incorporating new materials, I am also exploring deeper themes regarding our emotions, creating abstract patterns which reflect feelings, and the highs and lows of life.

Follow me on social media to see behind the scenes footage from my studio and works in progress.

Close up photo of an abstract artwork created by mixed media artist Joanna Ritchie.