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Wood Anemone, by Anna
Anna King - Photo credit: Julia Dunin.
Dr. Anna King (PhD, MA, BA) is an award-winning author and multidisciplinary artist working with nature-inspired creative prose, photography, and contemplative art practices.
Informed by her experience of adoption and a deep sense of displacement, Anna’s work is shaped by a lifelong journey of understanding the connection between our inner and outer worlds, while navigating the complexities of identity and community.
Drawing on the wisdom found within nature, Anna explores how these natural rhythms and cycles illuminate the human condition of impermanence. Using reflective art practices, she weaves the themes of both transience and belonging into her work.
Anna is fascinated by the deep human need to feel connected to place and community, while also seeking meaning and connection to something larger than the individual. Her work invites contemplation of both the tangible experiences of identity and the longing to transcend the self, connecting to a deeper source beyond day-to-day existence.
In 2014, Anna earned a Doctorate in Philosophy from NUI Galway (Ethnography and Arts-Based Methodologies). Her research was awarded a prestigious three-year full-time Irish Research Council Scholarship.
Currently, Anna is working on ‘The Cherry Blossom Tales’ - an immersive creative nonfiction project that brings the past to life through storytelling, art, folklore and community recollections. Funded by Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme 2025, this initiative involves a series of dynamic workshops with students at St. Nathy’s College, followed by an exhibition during the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival, 2025.
Since her PhD, Anna has developed a unique blend of participatory contemplative art practices, which reflects her deep commitment to exploring the connections between place, creativity and culture. During her Creative Places Ballaghaderreen Artist Research Residency (2023 - December 2024), Anna developed PLACEWAYS, which was funded by the Arts Council and Roscommon County Council
Circle of Connection
Anna is also delighted to join Anny O’Neill in March for a ‘Circle of Connection’ Retreat.
This ongoing project grew from Anna’s deep interest in the connection between art and health
A little bit about my art practice
A little bit about my creative work:
Rooted in ancient wisdom traditions, contemplative-art is a form of artistic expression and appreciation that encourages deep reflection, mindfulness, and inner-awareness.
My practice moves beyond the idea that our inner-world is separate from the landscapes within which we dwell. It explores concepts of interconnection and non-dualism, as well as the multi-layered lived-experience of being connected to place.
My Creative Process
All of my work is inspired by a deep appreciation and love of the natural world, the changing seasons and the healing potential that lies within the wisdom of nature's grace.
My creative work explores meditative spaces, where the delicate present moment invites us to release the perceived boundaries that separate us from eternal unfolding wholeness.
My poetry gives voice to silence, to the whispers of the unseen and the echo of timeless beauty captured in the scarred landscapes of forgotten connections.
I am inspired by the liminal spaces in-between that which we perceive to be real, and that which we experience as mystical.
My Style: Minimalist and Reflective.
I endeavour to create a sense of spaciousness in my work, with a view to awakening a deeper and more meaningful connection to our inner and outer landscapes, and beyond.
Beyond the ‘Veil of Separation’
I am also in the process of developing / researching a body of work for an immersive exhibition of experiences using contemplative art, sculpture (in collaboration with other artists), soundscapes, meditation audios with visualisation prompts, and living-spaces curated from natural materials.
Until this installation is finalised, I’m delighted to share with you some of the theory behind the contemplative-art experience, as well as how art can be used within social settings / environments to enhance individual and community health and well-being.
Lastly, I am working on a publication that will include a series of short stories and poems exploring my personal experience of adoption: “A Mother’s Silence’. Keep an eye on my instagram for updates.
ABOUT OUR BOOK
Rekindling the fire
During Covid I co-authored Re-Kindling the Fire: Food and The Journey of Life (published in 2022 by Austin Macauley) in collaboration with Dr. Martin Ruffley, an award winning chef and lecturer at GMIT. This book features my poetry, as well as creative non-fiction prose.
About our book:
Rekindling the Fire is not an ordinary cookbook. It is a beautiful collection of recipes that are inspired by Martin’s deeply touching story of overcoming addiction through cooking. My narrative gives ‘voice’ to Martin’s journey through the medium of creative writing, poetic verse and reflective insights drawn from my experience of mindful meditation.
As described by McKenna’s Guides:
“Anna King drives the narrative of this unforgettable book with skill and subtlety, teasing the wise philosophy of living from the authors fraught experiences.”
WINNER 2023 - ‘Best in the World' The Gourmand Cookbook Awards in the Lifestyle: Drink and Health Category.
In addition, Rekindling the Fire received a prestigious ‘Special Award’ in the Authors Category - Food Culture.
Our book has been featured in The Irish Independent, Times and Examiner, and The Connacht Tribune.
