I’m Anna Battle, a colourful, contemporary artist and designer based in Toowoomba. Art has been in my bones since childhood – my mother, Diana Battle, is an artist and my grandfather a photographer – and I’ve been creating for my whole life. I sketched my way through a Business degree and a career as an Army Officer before landing exactly where I belong: artmaking full time.

I work in both vibrant watercolour and acrylic, and my style is joyful, bold and colourful. I’m inspired by the William Morris philosophy that everything in your life should be both useful and beautiful, so I create original paintings alongside homewares, stationery and patterns designed to bring warmth and colour into everyday spaces.

My greatest inspiration is people. I truly believe that art helps everyone lead a richer life, and that seeing the world through an artist’s eyes builds gratitude and mindfulness. That belief is at the heart of my online teaching community, Shiny Happy Art, where I offer over 100 courses in drawing, watercolour and acrylics. I also love hosting in-person tours, workshops, pop-up events and art holidays.

Whatever I’m doing, my mission stays the same: to spread the joy of drawing and painting. So whether you make art, love art – or both – we should be Art Friends.