About Me
I was born in Barcelona and moved to Devon in 2009. I make Art from my shared workshop studio, the Garden Mill Studio, in Kingsbridge.
I studied Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona and moved to Devon to complete my degree with a final project in Illustration at The University of Plymouth. For over a decade, my career comprised a combination of Art development, creative tutoring, graphic design and events coordination, including directorship of my own gallery for over 5 years representing more than 50 local artists.
However, I had to give up my businesses when I developed several coordination and dexterity issues in 2021, which continued to evolve over the years culminating in a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2024. After learning to live with my new reality, I reinvented myself: I started to work in ceramics to keep my hands from deteriorating and found a new passion for clay. (As well as going back to college to study accounting – my current main job).
Creativity despite the challenges
Nowadays, Art is a side hustle, but it is still very much the driver of my creativity and heart. I produce a relatively small amount of pieces, each made with a true need to create, experiment and play. I believe that my recent life experiences have made me grow as an artist and helped me embrace the new me, disability and all.
But it wasn’t always like this. In 2022 I gave up drawing, making and selling. I was becoming increasingly frustrated by not being able to control my hands; even holding a pencil was challenging at times. All of these barriers made it impossible to translate thought into drawing. This loss of connection between hand and brain was happening due to the spinal cord damage caused by Multiple Sclerosis and subsequent neurological inflammation.
However, in 2025, after a hiatus of almost 3 years without drawing, I felt braver and started sketching again, both on paper and on clay! But I couldn’t have done that without having had years of hand physio through working in ceramics. Telling my brain to rewire that hand ability ability that was lost. Ceramics literally saved my dexterity and my sanity.
By the summer, in 2025, I also went back to exhibiting! With two exhibitions that year, I reminded myself of how much I enjoyed making, showing and selling my Art. But above all, being among peer artists feeling inspired.
Sketches & Ceramics
Now my work is done both on paper and on clay; I have embraced all styles and techniques I initially tried in an effort to regain dexterity, and I believe this journey has made me a better artist.
In my eyes, every creation, even if not perfect, has already served its purpose – to make me feel like my old self again and appreciate what I still have.
See All Ceramics
- Thrown
- Illustrated
- Handbuilt
See All Sketches
- Charcoal
- Ink
- Watercolour
Anna Ventura Artist & Ceramicist 