Laura Ritchie is a qualified Graphic Designer but during the notorious Lockdowns in 2020, she found the love of painting and decided to pursue a career as a full time artist.
Instagram became the platform where Laura found her voice through art and where she found plein air painting. Laura is an active member of the Surrey Hills Plein Air Painters, Surrey Figurative Artists, Dorking Group of Artists and Leatherhead Art Group. Laura also meets up with the ROI friends in various places in the UK to paint along with ROI members
‘Painting Plein air allows me to see light, colour and shadow that cannot be captured in a photograph. Painting on location is very challenging however it has taught me to paint quickly in a more impressionistic style and I have found that capturing the essence is sometimes more beautiful than the detail. I love telling stories too and adding people and animals into my landscapes.'
Along with painting pleinair, Laura also has a love of painting still lifes. Life drawing is a regular activity too which has allowed her to really study the posture and stance of individuals so that once painted in her landscape they become recognisable to their loved ones.
In 2024 Laura had a painting accepted into the Royal Institute of Oil Painters annual exhibition which was sold at the Mall Galleries in London. Laura also won the ROI Portrait competition in December which is held every year during the exhitibition.