Anika Manuel is a portrait and figurative painter living and working in Cornwall, specialising in portraying the female image. Working predominantly from found imagery of stylised women, Anika re-presents these images, often against bright patterned backgrounds, and forces the viewer to spend a bit more time looking at an image which might often be overlooked. The photograph and it's subsequent translation into painting is what excites Anika, by recycling the original image she imbues them with a different meaning, and champions the sometimes undervalued.

The fast drying acrylic medium lends itself to the vibrant and instantaneous nature of her process. As in the imagery Anika uses, often from fashion editorials where the seasons move quickly, she paints to reflect this, never spending too long on the process but creating artworks that last. Her style is realistic, depicting the human figure somewhat traditionally but with a contemporary edge.

Since graduating from the internationally renowned Chelsea College of Art and Design in 2011 with a First Class honors degree in Fine Art, Anika has had her work exhibited in numerous exhibitions and art fairs in the UK and was one of 12 artists chosen to take part in 20:12, an exhibition celebrating the Olympic games in which she was commissioned to paint a Team GB athlete. A highlight of her career was her first Solo show entitled “Dejavunik” which was held in the crypt of the acclaimed Mariners gallery in the beautiful location of St Ives and more recently, her residency with the Bankside Hotel which featured portraits of musicians writing about Isolation. She has worked on commissions with clients all over the world and has recently been requested by St Ermin's Hotel to paint the Queen.

Her work has been featured in respected publications such as The Independent, The Evening Standard and Heat Magazine to name a few. They have also featured on programmes including Grand Designs, The Only Way is Essex and on an upcoming Amazon prime series. Anika was honoured to be named as one of DegreeArt's 20 artists to own in 2022, giving her work a real boost and her busiest year yet.

Anika continues to exhibit internationally while working on private commissions, as well as any exciting new images she happens upon.