Moss & Ram is an original oil painting by Ashleigh Ritchie, part of an ongoing series where I weave moss and native forest textures into each animal, connecting them back to nature. I wanted this piece to feel calm and grounded, while showing the ram’s quiet strength and its connection to the landscape.
Moss drapes over the ram’s horns, almost as if the forest has slowly claimed them over time. I love the contrast between the strength of the horns and the softness of the moss. The earthy colours and layered textures bring the feeling of the forest into the painting, making the ram feel naturally connected to its surroundings.
There is a stillness to the ram that I wanted to capture. It feels strong without being forceful, and grounded without needing to demand attention. The moss softens the animal and adds a sense of time, as though it has been standing quietly within the landscape for years.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 655mm x 950mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2026
Moss & Fox is an original oil painting by Ashleigh Ritchie, part of an ongoing series where moss, leaves, and forest textures are woven into each subject, grounding them in their natural world. In this piece, the fox is captured in a quiet, watchful pause. Alert yet composed, embodying both presence and restraint within its environment.
Its gaze is steady and self-assured, carrying a quiet confidence that speaks to instinct and ease. Around the ear, soft greens are gently tucked into the fur - a subtle detail, but enough to suggest the forest’s quiet influence. The textures of foliage and coat merge through layered brushwork, blurring the line between animal and landscape.
The surrounding tones deepen this sense of connection, creating an atmosphere that feels both grounded and immersive. There is a rawness to the moment, something unpolished and honest, as if the fox exists not apart from the land, but as an extension of it. The piece invites a slower kind of looking, where small details reveal themselves over time.
Balancing realism with a natural, earthy softness, Moss & Fox explores the relationship between creature and environment. It is a reflection on connection, where beauty is not constructed, but found in the quiet, instinctive harmony of the wild.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 655mm x 950mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2026
Moss & Mane by Ashleigh Ritchie captures a close, quiet moment between two horses, their heads gently leaning together in a way that feels instinctive and calm. Their eyes are soft, almost lowered, as if the moment is shared just between them.
Moss, ferns and leaves rest through their manes and along their foreheads, settling naturally into the contours of their forms. The greenery doesn’t feel placed, it feels like it belongs there, softening their strength and tying them back to the land around them.
There’s a clear sense of trust between the two, something familiar and unforced. They lean in without hesitation, steady and at ease, creating a moment that feels grounded and real rather than staged.
The darker background holds them in that stillness, letting the warmth of their coats and the green tones come forward. Nothing distracts from the connection. It’s simple, quiet, and strong.
It’s a piece about connection, and a kind of beauty that feels real, grounded, and enduring.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 655mm x 950mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2026
Mossy Morag is an original oil painting by Ashleigh Ritchie, celebrating the gentle spirit and grounded beauty of the Highland cow, entwined with the richness of New Zealand’s native forests. With her warm russet coat and steady gaze, Morag carries the quiet strength of her Highland heritage while becoming part of the living landscape of Aotearoa.
Her deep brown eyes meet the viewer with calm assurance, reflecting a patience that feels timeless. Across her tousled fringe, soft mosses and fresh green leaves rest as if gathered from the damp, shaded forest floor — a crown shaped by nature itself. Each brushstroke brings together the familiar shaggy texture of her coat with the layered detail of forest growth, creating a seamless connection between animal and earth.
The surrounding greenery deepens the sense of harmony, drawing us into a world where the forest and its creatures belong to one another. Morag seems to carry the wild places with her — a reminder of resilience, connection, and the quiet magic woven through New Zealand’s native bush.
Balancing realism with a touch of forest enchantment, Mossy Morag is more than a likeness; it is a celebration of nature’s strength and beauty embodied in the living spirit of the Highland cow — earthy, rooted, and deeply soulful.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 655mm x 950mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2025
Toffee & Her Autumn Crown is an original oil painting by Ashleigh Ritchie, capturing the bright charm and playful elegance of a young Cocker Spaniel. Toffee, with her soft golden coat and curious gaze, wears a crown woven from the colours of autumn — burnt orange leaves, deep red petals, and clusters of ochre berries, each one painted with patient, deliberate care.
Her eyes, dark and glistening, hold both innocence and a spark of mischief, as though she’s moments away from bounding into a game or curling up in your lap. The fine strands of her long ears flow gently into the green backdrop, creating a sense of depth that frames her face like the final light of a crisp autumn afternoon.
Rather than a formal pose, Toffee’s slight head tilt invites you into her world — one of rustling leaves, cool breezes, and the simple joy of being outdoors. The composition feels alive, yet intimate, honouring both her youthful spirit and the fleeting beauty of the season she wears so proudly.
A portrait of joy, nature, and companionship, Toffee & Her Autumn Crown is as much about the moment as the muse — a celebration of the way animals make ordinary days feel golden.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 650mm x 945mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2025
Flora & Freckles captures the bright charm and playful elegance of a young girl adorned with a crown of blooms. Her wide, curious eyes glimmer with both innocence and mischief, hinting at the joy and wonder of childhood.
The floral crown, painted with rich autumnal tones and delicate detail, frames her face like the gentle light of a crisp afternoon, drawing you into her world of imagination and discovery. Every petal and leaf is rendered with careful, deliberate care, enhancing the sense of depth and life in the composition.
Rather than a formal pose, her subtle smile and lively gaze invite connection — a moment of joy frozen in time, celebrating the whimsical spirit of youth and the natural beauty surrounding her.
A portrait of charm, nature, and warmth, Flora & Freckles is as much about the feeling it evokes as the subject herself — a celebration of lighthearted moments and the beauty of everyday wonder.
Original Board Size: 600mm x 900mm
With Black Pine Frame: 650mm x 945mm
Original Painting
Hand-painted and signed by Ashleigh Ritchie, using high-quality, artist-grade oil paints on a prepared wood panel. Each original is crafted with care to ensure lasting beauty and depth of colour.
Completed: 2025
