Vanja is a geneticist and a self-taught artist who primarily paints in pastels and oils.  She started painting during her university years in her home town of Zagreb, Croatia, where her main painting interest followed her passion for equine subjects.  She had already started receiving critical acclaim for her commissions and exhibits in Croatia before moving to the United Kingdom.  She continued painting during her PhD at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester where she researched into the population genetics of rare horse breeds.  During this time she won the 'Horse & Rider/Frogpool Manor Art Competition' in 1994, with another entry highly commended in 1995.  Vanja was also the subject of articles in Equine Images (USA), Horse & Hound and Farmers Weekly magazines (both UK).  

Vanja became a full member of the Society for Equine Artists in 2010 and has been a regular exhibitor in their annual exhibitions, winning the Ingleton Beer Associates Best Horse and Rider Picture at the SEA Open Exhibition in 2010.  In 2012, her painting of ‘Police Officers’ was given the Editor’s Award Runner-up in Ex Arte Equinus 5, International Equine Art Competition.  Vanja has also exhibited in a number of smaller galleries, such as the 'Horse in Art' at the Obsidian Galleries, and in exhibitions held by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.  She has also completed a number of commissions for clients in the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA.  Recently, Vanja was the subject of an article in International Artist magazine as a ‘Master Painter of the World’, featuring the painting of ‘Working Class’.

“Horses have been the motivation in both my scientific career and in my art.  I have always been captivated by their timeless beauty, motion and subtle personalities.  In my paintings, the horses are portrayed against a simple background to emphasise the richness of their form and movement”