Growing up in England, Lia Mara was always drawn to the quiet magic of the natural world — the way light filters through ancient trees, the stillness of a lake that feels like it’s hiding secrets. That wonder never left her, even as she pursued a PhD in neuroscience. But in the fast-paced world of research, she found herself longing for something more — a way to slow down, breathe, and step into the realms of imagination she had always carried within her. She rediscovered that magic through painting.

Each brushstroke became a meditation, a way to weave together the beauty of nature with the timeless stories and emotions of fantasy. Over time, her art evolved into something more — not just landscapes or portraits, but portals into enchanted worlds where fae wander, magic hums beneath the surface, and emotions run as deep as myth itself.

Through completing the Mastery Program at the Milan Art Institute, Lia Mara refined her distinctive style, merging traditional techniques with a voice that is both ethereal and story-driven. Now as a professional artist based in Germany, she creates full-time, layering watercolours, oils, and delicate metallic accents to evoke places that exist on the edge of reality — where light and shadow hold secrets, and magic lingers in the air.

“My hope is that each painting offers more than an image — that it becomes a doorway. A place where book lovers and dreamers can pause, wander, and find themselves reflected in the wonder, transformation, and magic of fantasy.”