RIONA - "I’ve painted for as long as I can remember. It’s always been a part of me, like a second language I never had to learn. Over the years, painting has become not just how I create, but how I connect with myself, with the world around me, and with others who see something of themselves in my work. My style is best described as dreamy and nostalgic. I often say I paint collective memories, moments we’ve all experienced but rarely stop to think about. There’s a softness to the scenes I’m drawn to: hazy, rain-soaked days, the quiet blur of bokeh lights, the kind of feelings that sit at the edge of memory. Based in Manchester, I find endless inspiration in my rainy surroundings. There’s something beautifully reflective in grey skies and glistening streets."