About the Artist

Born in 1983, Johanna McKinney is a British Artist known for her work depicting animals, with a particular focus on their character, presence and individuality. Raised in East Anglia, she developed an early connection to the countryside, growing up among animals, open landscapes and the steady rhythm of life in a rural village.Her Grandfather, an artist himself, introduced her to the fundamentals of perspective and form, laying the groundwork for a lifelong love of drawing.

Entirely self-taught, Johanna has developed her practice through years of observation and exploring different subjects. Despite early discouragement in formal education, she continued to pursue art independently, refining her skills across multiple mediums including pastel, pencil, oils and acrylic. She began working as aprofessional artist in 2015 alongside other commitments, before committing fully to her practice in 2026.

Her work centres on animals, with a particular focus on British wildlife, livestock and horses. Underpinning her practice is a fascination with the individuality of each animal, the subtle differences in expression, posture and presence that reveal character. Having grown up around horses, they remain a constant source of inspiration and are often at the heart of her work. More broadly, her subjects reflect a deep respect for rural heritage, and the role animals play within it, each piece aiming to capture not just likeness, but beauty and connection.

Johanna often works from her own photographic references, drawing on her experience as a professional photographer and her continued time spent behind the camera. Combined with carefully selected source material, this allows her to develop strong compositions creating pieces with depth, realism and clarity.

Alongside her British subjects, Johanna spent three years living in Oman, where she produced a collection of camel art works that were collected internationally. This period broadened her experience and gave her a good insight into the heritage and tradition surrounding animals in other cultures.

She produces original works, commissions and smaller studies, with her practice increasingly focused on creating pieces suited to collectors and country homes. Her long-term ambition is to establish herself as a recognised Contemporary British Artist, known for work that captures the character and presence of animals within rural life.