Riitta Toro, BA (Hons) Fine Art Photography
MA Media Arts Photography
Portrait and fine art photography
AND NOW BODYPAINTING AND DIGITAL PAINTING!!
MA Media Arts Photography
Portrait and fine art photography
AND NOW BODYPAINTING AND DIGITAL PAINTING!!
I was born in Finland in the 1960's. My career as a photographer started at the age of seven, when I picked my first camera. It was my mother's Golby Menisque and I still have it in my studio.
Later I was trained in technical photography. I spent my first thirteen working years in the biggest newspaper in Finland.
1991 I decided to follow my dream to study art and enrolled to art foundation course in Liminka Art School, in Oulu, Finland
1992 I moved to UK and in Southampton I studied BA (hons) Fine Art in Solent University specialising in alternative media; video, performance and photography. I graduated in 1995.
1995 I was accepted in Master of Media Arts course in the same university, which I completed and graduated in 1998. My specialities were analytical media, research techniques, photography and photoshop manipulation.
After my graduation I lernt to dive, trained as PADI diving Instructor and teacher of underwater photography. I was teaching underwater photography and diving until 2005.
1998 I moved to Surrey and learnt stone carving, spent time mastering the skill of hand crafting stone and wood and exhibited in Surrey. I was founder member of sculpture group in Wrecclesham in Surrey, which still has active sculpture studio in there.
2005-06 was a period that I wanted to return in education and I started art-therapy degree in Goldsmith University in London. I did not complete that, as I changed my studies to tv- and video production.
2006 I completed a full teacher training before I settled in Seale, Surrey, where I opened my photography studio on June 2007.
With life long photography, fine art and media studies experience, I can combine the knowledge of colour with the techniques of painting and sculpture, resulting in a unique perspective in photography.
I have travelled and exhibited widely around the world, had total twenty seven solo exhibitions.
I have had many community projects in mental health and in art therapy sector, the most important of them as an art-therapist in Charity organisation 'MIND' in Southampton and in Hampshire county council mental health sector in Hampshire.
I have earned International recognition and my work can be seen in numerous online galleries worldwide. I have work in private collections in Scandinavia, France, United States, Holland, Germany and in England.
1st of October 2009 I closed my Seale studio to pursue more personal projects in Europe and to get further training in digital re-touching and HDR photography.
I spent couple of years training for digital painting and exhibiting my own projects mainly in Europe. I also met and photographed my first celebraties, I was accepted in the biggest celebrity acengy in the world as a contributing photographer and over all I had smashing time meeting new people and getting higher in the photography ladder.
2011 I fully opened my business again with new trained skills and I am offering even better and wider service to all of you who wish to own something very unique.
I have added make-up artist and a bodypainter to my team and can offer fantasy and themed portraits. The possibilities really are endless now.
Contact me via contact form in this website or call on 07765 838552
Later I was trained in technical photography. I spent my first thirteen working years in the biggest newspaper in Finland.
1991 I decided to follow my dream to study art and enrolled to art foundation course in Liminka Art School, in Oulu, Finland
1992 I moved to UK and in Southampton I studied BA (hons) Fine Art in Solent University specialising in alternative media; video, performance and photography. I graduated in 1995.
1995 I was accepted in Master of Media Arts course in the same university, which I completed and graduated in 1998. My specialities were analytical media, research techniques, photography and photoshop manipulation.
After my graduation I lernt to dive, trained as PADI diving Instructor and teacher of underwater photography. I was teaching underwater photography and diving until 2005.
1998 I moved to Surrey and learnt stone carving, spent time mastering the skill of hand crafting stone and wood and exhibited in Surrey. I was founder member of sculpture group in Wrecclesham in Surrey, which still has active sculpture studio in there.
2005-06 was a period that I wanted to return in education and I started art-therapy degree in Goldsmith University in London. I did not complete that, as I changed my studies to tv- and video production.
2006 I completed a full teacher training before I settled in Seale, Surrey, where I opened my photography studio on June 2007.
With life long photography, fine art and media studies experience, I can combine the knowledge of colour with the techniques of painting and sculpture, resulting in a unique perspective in photography.
I have travelled and exhibited widely around the world, had total twenty seven solo exhibitions.
I have had many community projects in mental health and in art therapy sector, the most important of them as an art-therapist in Charity organisation 'MIND' in Southampton and in Hampshire county council mental health sector in Hampshire.
I have earned International recognition and my work can be seen in numerous online galleries worldwide. I have work in private collections in Scandinavia, France, United States, Holland, Germany and in England.
1st of October 2009 I closed my Seale studio to pursue more personal projects in Europe and to get further training in digital re-touching and HDR photography.
I spent couple of years training for digital painting and exhibiting my own projects mainly in Europe. I also met and photographed my first celebraties, I was accepted in the biggest celebrity acengy in the world as a contributing photographer and over all I had smashing time meeting new people and getting higher in the photography ladder.
2011 I fully opened my business again with new trained skills and I am offering even better and wider service to all of you who wish to own something very unique.
I have added make-up artist and a bodypainter to my team and can offer fantasy and themed portraits. The possibilities really are endless now.
Contact me via contact form in this website or call on 07765 838552