Textures of Life

Award-winning mixed media artist Anna Perlin grew up in Oxfordshire, where she discovered her love of nature and the British landscape. Using a range of original techniques, Anna blends mixed media with fabric collage to create stunning works layered with texture and depth.

Anna appeared on Landscape Artist of the Year, a popular Sky Arts television program where artists compete to win a gallery commission. She made it through to the semi-finals, and the following year she won the Artists and Illustrators Artist of the Year.

Why do you create?

I've always done art from before I can remember, and it's something my parents said I did non-stop as a child. Alongside university, and then when I started working before I became a full time artist, I drew and painted as a hobby, did art classes and joined an art society. I can't imagine not painting, it's part of me and always has been.

How and where do you work?

I'm lucky to have a studio in my house now in Hertfordshire, although I started out by painting in my dining room for many, many years. Seven years ago we moved to a house that had a space that was perfect for a studio and storage, as I needed somewhere big enough to do large paintings and where I could store work in preparation for solo exhibitions. Having a young family, I found that having somewhere to work in my house rather than an external studio, gave me the flexibility to work as much as could but also be around for my children.




I make my day as normal a 'working' day as possible. As soon as my kids have gone to school I go in my studio and start working. I make sure I break up my day seeing people though, like an exercise class or a coffee with a friend, as having a home studio can be quite solitary, but I enjoy putting the radio on loud and working to my own agenda.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration is what I love and want to put up in my house, and invariably that's nature. The countryside, my garden and flowers all make me happy and are what I want to bring inside my house so that's what I paint.

What influences your work?

I am influenced by other art that I like, but mostly paint for myself and if I'm happy with a painting then hopefully someone else will be too. I've chosen the galleries I work with carefully and they don't dictate the price, theme, size, etc of what I paint. I think I do better work by painting what I enjoy, and that seems to resonate with others too.

Where do you sell your art?

I sell directly from enquiries and through a few galleries. My website lists all my exhibitions and galleries, together with my contact details.

How do you promote yourself and your work?

A balance of everything, I find is the best approach. Social media is definitely a huge platform now and Instagram and Facebook are a great way to share my work. It's where lots of people find me and they can chose to go to my website to see more of my work, or go to my physical exhibitions. I also display art in local exhibitions as well as the bigger gallery exhibitions. I started out in local shows and they're a great place to find art and support local causes.

What are your future ambitions?

I don't have a plan for the future, apart from continuing to paint! I'm starting to develop my flower and still-life paintings, so that's something I'd like to explore further. As long as my paintings are finding forever homes, so that I can continue to paint, then I consider myself very fortunate.

Do you have any advice for other artists?

My main advice would be to create for yourself first, and for other people second. There's no such thing as right or wrong in art, so if you've done something that pleases you and makes you happy, then you've already succeeded.


Massive thanks to Anna for answering our questions. If you'd like to see more of Anna Perlin's textured art, be sure to visit her website or follow her on Instagram.