About Joanna Benfield
My love of all things nautical inspires my watercolour paintings. Using a fresh vibrant colour palette, I infuse my work with a sense of joy and playfulness - capturing not just the beauty of waterside scenes, but their character too. My inspiration comes from the sun-drenched seaside villages of the Mediterranean, as well as the historic harbours and quiet river shores of the United Kingdom. Put simply, I am never happier than when I am sitting on a boat or on the quayside, paintbrush in hand, translating the magic of the coastline onto the paper in front of me.
I am fortunate enough to divide my creative time between two very different spaces. While I have a traditional bricks-and-mortar studio in Surrey, I also work from a rather less conventional one on a boat in the Mediterranean. From our base in the beautiful historic port of Antibes, we cruise the stunning coastlines of Southern Europe. I paint the architectural gems along the shorelines, as well as the cheerful boats bobbing around on the water, while my husband keeps our vessel shipshape. It is a life of incredible views, creative freedom and the occasional hilarious mishap that inevitably accompanies life on the ocean wave. You can read the candid, behind-the-scenes stories of life in my floating studio in my Through the Porthole blog.
My artistic journey began early: coming from a family of artists, I won my first art competition at just four years old, painting a picture of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee. While I have painted for enjoyment my entire life, I also pursued fascinating adjacent careers in international diplomacy and then psychotherapy. Having lived and worked across Europe - including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Germany, France and Belgium - I draw deeply upon the diverse cultures, history and light of the places that I have called home.
Whether painting from my quiet studio in Surrey or balancing a palette on the flybridge in a Mediterranean cove, my goal remains the same: to bring a piece of waterside joy and light into your home. I am incredibly grateful that this floating adventure has resonated with collectors and art societies alike, allowing me to continue doing what I love, while putting a smile on others' faces at the same time.
Recent Awards
Finalist in the Supporting the Arts competition 2026
'Honourable Mention Award' in the Terravarna International 'Water' Competition 2026
'Watercolour Artist of the Year' in the Corporate Livewire Global Awards 2025/26
'Best Nautical Watercolour Artist' award in the Greater London Enterprise Awards 2025
Finalist in the 2022 SAA Artist of the Year competition 2022
Recent & Forthcoming Exhibitions
Art & Sculpture in the Vineyard, High Clandon Estate Vineyard, 28 June - 12 July 2026
The Coastal Edit, Sage and Salt Studios, Petersfield, 3 July- 15 August 2026
Making Space Exhibition, Robert Phillips Gallery, Walton upon Thames, 29 July - 23 August 2026
The Horton Summer Exhibition, The Horton Arts Centre, Epsom, 1 - 25 August 2026
