Anya Simmons – portfolio

Contact the artist

https://www.anyasimmons.co.uk
07805 954169
anyasimmonsart@gmail.com

Exhibition information

Working primarily in mixed media, Anya begins each piece by building layers of texture—often using gesso, collage, and a variety of tools to create spontaneous marks and surfaces. Over these foundations, she applies acrylic inks in translucent washes, allowing colour to seep, settle, and glow through the textured landscape. This process gives her paintings their distinctive sense of depth, movement, and dreamlike atmosphere.

Anya’s work is inspired by British coastal towns, harbours, rural landscapes, quirky worlds and the quiet poetry of everyday scenes. While her harbours often capture the recognisable character of a place, her landscapes drift more freely — feeling real, but not always locatable. They become spaces where memory and imagination blend, where the familiar turns gently surreal, and where viewers are invited to wander through their own nostalgic associations.

Whether depicting a Cornish harbour, a moonlit village, or a whimsical hillside cottage or world, her paintings radiate a sense of warmth, optimism, and emotional resonance. Texture, colour, and intuition guide her process, resulting in artworks that feel both tactile and atmospheric—alive with story, memory, and the quiet magic of place.

Artist information

Born in 1969 in Uganda and raised in Nairobi, Kenya until the age of fourteen, Anya Simmons’ early life was steeped in vivid colour, intense light, and the rich visual rhythms of East Africa. These formative years left a lasting imprint on her artistic voice, shaping the warmth, vibrancy, and bold contrasts that continue to echo through her work today.

After moving to the UK, Anya studied for a BEd in Art and Design, later enjoying a successful career as a primary school teacher. Though she loved teaching, her enduring passion for creativity eventually led her to pursue art full‑time—a transition that allowed her to fully explore the imaginative, textural world that has since become her signature.

Today, Anya’s work is celebrated across the UK, available through galleries, art fairs, and her online store. Her collections include original mixed‑media paintings, limited‑edition giclée prints, open‑edition gem prints, and a range of beautifully crafted home and gift items featuring her artwork.