

After completing her studies at the Royal College of Art, she kickstarted her career as a Graphic Artist and Designer. Ria thrives on the stimulation of new briefs, collaborating with others and developing ideas into bespoke pieces which embody energy and excitement.
Ria has a passion for live events and productions and early on in her career worked on a number of Theatre Productions; creating punchy meaningful designs. These projects paved the way for Spotlight Designs, a Graphic Studio specialising in the Arts.
Ria Barnes
About
We are a passionate group of designers, and visual artists with a love for theatre and the performing arts. With years of experience working alongside directors, producers, and set designers, we understand the unique demands of the theatre and arts world. Our mission is to merge artistic vision with practical design, helping create immersive, captivating environments that enrich every performance.

Ria Barnes
Art Director
After finishing her studies at the Royal College of Art, Ria started her career as a Graphic Artist and Designer. Her love for live events and productions quickly grew from working alongside other creatives in the Arts and seeing her designs come to life on stage. This experience led her to start Spotlight Designs, a graphic studio focused on the Arts.
Since launching Spotlight Designs in 2019, Ria has been passionate about tackling new briefs and collaborating with others. Show now works with a talented group of freelance designers to bring fresh, custom designs to every project. By working as a team, Ria ensures that each piece is filled with creativity and energy, making sure clients get exactly what they need for their productions.
Olivia - Creative Director - Front Room Productions
"Thank you SO much for your incredible work making 'Whodunnit at the Coliseum?' look so spectacular! It's been a pleasure to work with you.
You captured everything we've spoken about brilliantly and you've brought the world of the show to life in a more spectacular and exciting way than we could have ever imagined!"
Steph Balmforth - Production Manager, Sheffield Theatres
"Ria was really accommodating with the project and produced incredible artwork in a tight timeframe.
There was great communication throughout and we couldn’t have asked for a better finished article to really bring the production to life."
Hannah - Production Designer - Love n Stuff, Oldham Coliseum
"Ria created gorgeous and realistic graphics for some airport-style lightboxes in my design for 'Love n Stuff'. They were a really crucial part in my set design concept and realism was key and Ria brought them to life to make them look the part! I really enjoyed working with her on the project, she was always quick to respond and happy to accommodate any last minute changes. I look forward to working with her again."
Richmond - Head of Production, Watford Palace Theatre
“I am really impressed by the quality of work produced by Ria and am incredibly grateful, as the timescale for the project was very short.
She worked very hard to make sure the graphics could be delivered on time, which was key for the opening night of the production,
I will definitely be looking to use her skills again!”
Alice - Unsung Collective Director
"Working with Ria to create our logo was a real joy. There was so much that we wanted to get across in this single graphic, and Ria skillfully unlocked it all - working closely with us to turn a list of abstract concepts and influences into the perfect design. Ria's genuine enthusiasm, and interest in getting to know the company, really shone through. The whole process was a breeze, and we are thrilled with the result - thank you, Ria, for lending us your creativity, and for a brilliant experience from start to finish."