Bio

Bio/CV

ANYA WARD (b.1975, United Kingdom) is an artist living and working in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Her acrylic-based mixed media abstract paintings are process-driven and explore tension between structure and instability, containment and release. The work develops through an intuitive, materially responsive approach in which line, colour, and form emerge across layered surfaces.

Working with mixed materials and found tools for mark-making, Anya allows repetition, erasure, and reworking to guide the evolution of each painting. Her practice is concerned with embodiment, perception, and interconnectedness, and with how these ideas can be experienced through the physicality of paint and surface.

Anya exhibits in contemporary art galleries across the UK and her work is held in private collections in the UK, Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia. She is an alumni member of New Platform Art.

Anya was a winner of the 2026 MacFarlane’s Art Prize; finalist of the 2026 Clyde & Co Art Prize; finalist 2023 Outside In’s National exhibition; finalist of the 2022 Women In Art Prize (was Hollybush Painting Prize)

Solo Exhibitions:

“Tell Me about You and Me” – Tenby Gallery & Museum (Oct-Nov 2024)

“Lle ar Lan y Mor” – 2 London Place Gallery, Borth, Ceredigion (Feb-Mar 2022)

“A Human Being” – Life: Full Colour Gallery, Caernarfon (July-Aug 2021)

Group Exhibitions:

“Auto_Amor Vol 3” Terrace Gallery, London (Feb-Mar 2026)

“People’s Choice Award” Albany Gallery, Cardiff (Jan-Feb 2026)

“Otherworld” Gallery Gwyn, Aberaeron (Oct-Nov 2025)

“Summer Exhibition” Gallery At Home, Abergavenny (Jun-Aug 2025)

“NPA Exhibition” Clyde & Co and MacFarlanes, London (Apr25-Mar 2026)

“Antidote” Oriel Canfas, Cardiff (Nov-Dec 2024)

“Fiesta” ArtCan members show, Inky Fingers gallery, Hackney Wick, London (Jul 2024)

“Still : Life” Studio Cennen, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire (Mar-Apr 2024)

“Between The Lines” The House of Smalls, Chipping Campden (Feb-Apr 2024)

“Open 24” Queen Street Gallery, Neath (4-24 Feb 2024)

“Annual Open” Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy (Jan – Feb 2024)

“Mountains, Moons, Music” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (Nov 23-Feb 2024)

“Grwp Hydref” Blackwater Gallery, Cardiff (3-24 Nov 2023)

“Trails” The Turner House, Cardiff (Sept-Oct 23)

“Human:Nature” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (Jun-Aug 2023)

“Spring Open” Cardiff M.A.D.E, Cardiff (May 2023)

“Monochrome:Greyscale” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (Apr-May 2023)

“Poems, Psalms & Song” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (Nov-Dec 2022)

“Ebb & Flow” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (Sept 2022)

“Body:Stitch:Soul:Sow” Studio Cennen, Llandeilo (July 2022)

“Open Exhibition” Royal Cambrian Academy (RCA, Conwy (Jan-Mar 2022)

“Open Exhibition” Life:Full Colour Gallery, Caernarfon (2020, 2021)

 

Awards:

Recipient: Immersive Arts ‘Explore’ grant (2025)

Finalist: – Outside In’ UK National Exhibition “Humanity” at Sotheby’s, London (January 2023) Project Ability, Glasgow (August 2023) and Hove Museum of Creativity (Nov-Jan 2024)

Finalist: Hollybush Emerging Women In Art Painting Prize, London (July 2022)

Shortlisted: – Women In Art Painting Prize, London (July 2023)

Shortlisted: – Cardiff MADE Annual Spring Open (May 2023)

Longlisted: BEEP Painting Prize biennale (Jul 2024)

Residencies:

Stiwdio Maelor, Corris, Ceredigion – 2/10 – 9/10 2023

PD Programmes:

New Platform Art – 2024 cohort