Teacher’s back; compete with artist in coastal areas (8)

'coastal areas' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'teacher's back compete with artist in' is the wordplay.
'teacher' becomes 'sir' (way of addressing a male teacher).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'compete with' becomes 'vie' (I've seen this before).
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'sir' back-to-front is 'ris'.
'vie'+'ra'='viera'
'ris' placed around 'viera' is 'RIVIERAS'.

Can you help me to learn more?