About Joanna Benfield

My love of all things nautical inspires my watercolour paintings. I infuse my work with a sense of fun, depicting waterside scenes in fresh colour palettes. My inspiration comes from the vibrant seaside villages of the Mediterranean, as well as the beautiful harbours and river shores of the United Kingdom. I am never happier than when I am sitting on a boat or on the quayside, paintbrush in hand, capturing the beauty and character of the places I am fortunate enough to visit.

I come from a family of artists and won my first art competition aged four, painting a picture of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee! I have continued to paint ever since, while pursuing adjacent careers in international diplomacy and then psychotherapy. I have lived and worked in a number of European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Germany, France and Belgium. Each of these has provided artistic and cultural inspiration for my work. I currently live in Surrey with my family, and I divide my time between the UK and the South of France, which provides much of my artistic inspiration.

 

Recent Awards

'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

 

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