Artworks by Anna Shelvey

I started painting after deciding I needed a better habit than the ones I was leaving behind. I was looking for something creative to fill the space, but it quickly became much more than that.

A late ADHD diagnosis helped explain why. Painting is one of the few things that quiets my mind. I can lose hours building, scraping back and rebuilding layers, and somehow come away feeling calmer than when I started.

I’m inspired by places that stay with me long after I’ve left them. The Kent and Sussex coast, wide open skies and weathered buildings all find their way into my work. I’m not trying to paint an exact view. I’m more interested in capturing the atmosphere, the light and the feeling of being there.

I work intuitively with acrylics, letting each painting evolve as I go. Some end up looking nothing like where they started, which is probably fitting. More recently I’ve found myself drawn to weathered architecture and the marks left behind by time and the elements. I’m interested in what remains after the storm has passed, after the paint has peeled, the rust has settled and the crowds have gone. Whether it’s a stretch of coastline or an old building, I’m always trying to paint how a place feels rather than simply how it looks.

My work is exhibited across Kent in galleries, exhibitions and creative spaces. As my practice continues to grow, I'm fortunate to have opportunities to share my paintings with new audiences throughout the county.

Recent Exhibitions

Creative Maidstone (2026)
In A Space Open Call Exhibition, Whitstable (2026)

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

Bodies of Water, Square Gallery, Dover (until 8th August 2026)
East Kent Art Society, Sandwich (August & November 2026)
The House, Ramsgate (Autumn 2026)
Gallery 37, Broadstairs (November 2026)
Jobmuscroft Gallery, Margate (May 2027)

There are several exciting exhibition opportunities currently in the works, and I'll be sharing more details soon.

I’m joining Artfinder because I like the idea of my paintings finding homes with people who connect with them. If one of my pieces makes someone stop for a moment, remember a place or simply enjoy looking at it every day, then I’ve done what I set out to do.