Made in Iceland!

My journey began in Kopavogur, a town on the outskirts of Reykjavik that offered a unique combination of mountainous and coastal landscapes. Growing up there, I developed a deep connection with nature. Spending summers on my great grandfather's potato farm in southern Iceland, where there was no TV on Thursdays or during the summer, allowed me to fully immerse myself in the drama of the natural world. My family also raised Iceland's famous horses, which are often seen grazing on the wild land. Riding horses through barley fields at sunset or witnessing the power of the crashing waves against the black shore were formative experiences that continue to inspire my art today.

Working at my great grandfathers potato farm.

My creative spirit led me to become a sought-after professional makeup artist, working for London Fashion Week and the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing with Anton du Beke. I even ran a successful makeup school, but despite my success, I felt unfulfilled. "It was enjoyable to work on photo shoots, TV, and fashion, but there was always a sense of purpose missing... I felt empty when, after a hard day's work, the makeup was wiped off in one fell swoop. It was as if nothing meaningful was left behind. Now, my life has changed, as my art encompasses everything I was missing."

My art process begins with meditation and writing inspirational words directly onto the canvas, creating a personal connection with the work. These words are based on the emotions and experiences that have captured my attention in daily life. Once I have mixed my paints and established my color palette, the words become integrated into the liquid flow of the paint. My process is an attempt to capture emotions visually while also embedding certain feelings and concepts into the painting in a more subtle manner, which is why I allow the inspirational words to dissolve. For me, they don't disappear but are transformed into another form.

There is always some kind of emotion or memory attached to my pieces. I could tell you the story behind each one I've ever created. I know when a painting is finished because I get this 'aha!' moment and a feeling that I don't want to let it go. Although I understand that exhibiting and selling are part of the process, I don't do this for those reasons - it's about something much deeper for me.

Once again, thank you so much for your support and for being a part of my journey. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

With warmest regards,

Anna Dora