Andrea Ventling is originally from Switzerland, where she studied fish reproduction as part of her PhD in zoology. She came with her husband to work at the Marine Lab in Leigh, and during that time of intense diving, she fell deeply in love with the lively coastal scenery and the textures and colours of the underwater world.

The next chapter in Andrea's life saw her taking an interior design course, and then moving into providing special paint finishes for clients' kitchens, walls and furniture. The alchemy of these unique layerings, and creating specific textural effects, gave Andrea the know-how to adapt this craft to her artistic works. Navigating and experimenting with shellac, inks, silver leaf, watercolours and more, Andrea has created a mode of expression that is unlike any other.

Many memorable moments from those early days underwater form the basis of Andrea's art today. Her inspiration comes from these immersive scenes, where mood, lighting, and movement blend to create images that are as experiential as they are elegant. Her aim is to produce underwater works that viewers can let themselves float into, mesmerised by the captivating dance of water, flora and fauna. Often viewers comment that Andrea's works transports them to another world, meditative and blissful.

Our underwater ecosystems are often unseen, and therefore their fragility does not receive enough recognition. Andrea would like her pieces to be ambassadors of oceanic life, raising awareness of the beauty, colours and graceful movement that can be found on our doorstep. These riches are living treasures worth protecting.