I’m Ella, a Manchester-based artist in my final year of studying Fine Art. My work focuses on the connection between the female body and the natural world, and how those two spaces reflect each other. I’m interested in ecofeminism, the environment, and the ways women’s experiences can be understood through landscape, water, and organic forms.

A lot of my practice is influenced by nature and the ocean. I’ve always been drawn to marine life, coral systems, and the scientific side of how ecosystems survive and collapse. My interest in marine biology and environmental preservation feeds directly into my work - not in a literal way, but in how I think about fragility, regeneration, and the impact humans have on natural spaces. I also explore the spiritual connection between women and nature, and how both move through cycles of growth, decay, and disruption. These ideas shape the worlds I create in my paintings.

I’m influenced by artists who explore the body, nature, and the relationship between humans and their environments - including Ana Mendieta, Kiki Smith, Agnes Denes, and John William Godward. Their practices push me to think about how art can hold personal experience while still engaging with wider environmental ideas.

I work primarily in oil paint, but I like to keep my practice varied. I experiment with charcoal, acrylic, gouache, oil pastels, lino printing and more. Trying new materials helps me broaden my visual language and keeps my process open and intuitive. My sketchbook plays a huge role in my practice - I carry it everywhere, and most paintings begin as a quick sketch or idea on those pages before evolving into a finished piece.

I’m currently developing a body of work that brings together ecofeminist ideas, spirituality, and the environments that have shaped me. If you’d like to connect, discuss a commission or learn more about my work, I would love to hear from you. You can reach me at info@artbyellamortaz.com or on Instagram @ellamortazart. Thank you for supporting my practice and taking the time to explore my work.