Scottish Deerhounds, watercolor

About Me Ria Winters has drawn and painted since childhood. She grew up in a village in the northeast portion of the Netherlands, surrounded by wetlands. In these idyllic surrounding, Ria developed a love of the landscape and its indigenous wildlife.

Her grandsparents had a farm, where she loved to spend her time drawing the birds and animals, and the countryside that surrounded the farm. In time her drawings became accomplished.

Later Ria started to travel, which became an important part of her life. Having travelled to the United States, Mexico, Kenya and many European countries, her choice of the subjects reflect this broadened sense of vision, the animals and scenery she has witnessed first hand during travels.

As techniques for her artwork she uses:
- oil on canvas
- watercolour on watercolour paper
- watercolour and gouache on illustration board.
Her paintings are the result of many hours of field study and research. Memory, fantasy together with the photographs and the sketches made on location, are the start for her paintings which she makes at home.
Ria's subjects are observed through the eyes of a naturalist, yet rendered with the expertise of a gifted artist.

Artist statement:

"In my paintings I express the beauty of nature. Through showing the reality as I see it I hope to draw the attention of the viewer to this beauty, and arouse awareness that nature is worth looking after. Art is a personal way of freedom. My paintings are a product of inspired travel and a lifelong experience of making art."

International memberships:

- The Wildlife Art Society, UK
- The Marwell Art Society, based in Winchester, UK
- The World Wide Nature Artist's group (www.natureartists.com)

Ria participated in group exhibitions and had numerous one woman shows. Her work has been collected in Holland and abroad (Australia, England, Ireland, Germany, Switserland, Canada and U.S.A.).
She welcomes commissions of portraits (animals and people), landscapes and all wildlife subjects.

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