My name is Anna Joan and I am a professional animal portrait artist specialising in drawing Britain's wildlife and bespoke pet portraits using only premium coloured pencils as my medium.
At 21 years old, I began my journey as an artist in 2020 while studying for my Undergraduate in Classical Studies with The Open University. Within four years I was able to grow my customer base for pet portraits from local to international, create an online craft shop that featured prints, greeting cards and framed originals, trade at local craft markets which progressed into trading outside of East Anglia, to then entering local and national competitions and winning Arts and Craft category awards. After I graduated in the summer of 2024, I entered the National Youth Trader Market competition where I won Young Trader of the Year for the East of England.
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As of October 2025, I am going to be studying for an MPhil in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge.
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Left: Completing a few of my first pet and wildlife portraits in 2020.
Right: Trading in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2024 for the NYTM competition.
What my artwork means to me
Hares and Rabbits
Why they are my symbol
​It became clear that these are very misunderstood creatures, and along with other small animals in the UK, a lot suffer from, for the most part, unintentional neglect. Rabbits are in fact incredibly social creatures and can form strong bonds and a love for their owners. After learning about them and their loving nature, there was no doubt that I was going to make rabbits and hares the symbol of my art and frequently depict them in my portraits.
I personally feel a deeper connection to nature through my relationship with my bunnies and cherish them as individuals.
​I have owned quite a few rabbits in my life, but it was a little rabbit called Ted, a black and white Lionhead, with whom I grew an incredibly special bond. Because of him, I decided to become a "rabbit expert" and studied their origins, behaviour and also all about their cousins, hares.
One of our rabbits, Strawberry, lounging on my office chair.
Anna Joan on Instagram
@annajoansart
If you have an Instagram account and are interested in watching me draw my artwork, or simply want to keep up with my progress, feel free to follow me on my business' official Instagram page using the icon above!
If you have any enquiries, please do not hesitate to send me an email.
I aim to respond to emails within 2 working days.