Ryan was born in Ireland. At the age of 14, he decided he wanted to be a cinematographer.He attended and graduated the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology.Ryan is a frequent collaborator on Andrea Arnold's films, including Wasp, Red Road, Fish Tank, Wuthering Heights and American Honey.He has worked with Ken Loach on the films The Angels' Share, Jimmy's Hall, and I Daniel Blake. He served as the director of photography on films including Slow West and Philomena.
