Núria Riera is a Spanish watercolour painter whose work is known for its clarity, restraint and gentle attention to the everyday. After studying Business Administration and working in a corporate environment, she made a complete change of direction, undertaking the full-time Drawing and Painting program at the Barcelona Academy of Art (2017-2019). This formal training shaped her foundation, but it was in Tarifa - surrounded by sea, wind and open horizon - that she found her voice.
Her work has gained international recognition, particularly within respected watercolour institutions. In 2023 she became a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society (USA), and her paintings have received several awards from the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (London), including the Schmincke Prize (2023) and both the President's Choice Award and the Dry Red Press Award in 2024.
Núria has exhibited in Spain, the UK, Italy and the United States, with notable showings at the Mall Galleries in London, the National Watercolor Society's International Open Exhibition, and the LX International Drawing Competition in Barcelona. She also teaches workshops internationally, sharing her practical and thoughtful approach to watercolour.
Selected Highlights
• Signature Member, National Watercolor Society (USA), 2023
• Multiple awards, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (London), 2023-2024
• First Place, Women in Watercolor International Juried Competition (USA), 2023
• Exhibitions in Spain, UK, Italy and USA including RI Annual Exhibitions, NWS International Open Exhibition, and La Cárcel Real, Tarifa
Education
• Barcelona Academy of Art, Full-Time Drawing & Painting Program (2017-2019)
• Visual Storytelling Workshop, Nathan Fowkes, Seville (2023)
• BSc Business Administration, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona