About April-Anna / Qui est APRIL-ANNA?

”We are the Environment, the Environment is Us.

What we do to the Environment, we do to Ourselves.”

”I make silent music with colour & form.”

– April-Anna

Bio

April-Anna is a multidisciplinary fine artist based in Montreal, Canada. She launched her first art business in 1996 while still in High School, beginning with window painting and face painting before expanding into mehndi, body art, fine art, photography, and stop-motion animation.

Born in Mission, British Columbia, she grew up on the Coast, and spent her teens in the ranching town of Merritt, where she established herself as a youth entrepreneur.  Her early twenties were spent between the Okanagan & the Coast of BC.

Since relocating to Montreal in 2006, April-Anna has continues to bridge commercial projects and fine art exhibitions. After already having worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil in 2006 & 2007 (body art on VIP staff for opening night of Kooza), she later completed two diplomas in makeup artistry while taking fine art workshops, further merging fine art with technical craft.

Her work has been showcased at major festivals including MURAL Festival (2025), Osheaga (Honda Stage), and Taste of the Caribbean; published internationally in the United Nations Academic Magazine The Art of Climate Action (2021); and licensed by the SIPO TV Neurodivergent Arts Festival, a global platform featuring ADHD and Autistic artists. She has also created commissioned work for clients such as Cirque Éloize, NYX Cosmetics, DoubleTree by Hilton, CIBC, and L’Oréal Paris.

With nearly three decades of experience, April-Anna continues to bridge fine art and live performance, offering clients and audiences a unique blend of creativity, professionalism, and visual storytelling.

Artist Statement

“What I love most about art is when I have created results that strikes the inner ‘chord’. To wake up the inner child, to see the look of joy, curiosity, light, mystery or wonder in a persons eyes is very rewarding to me as an artist. To inspire someone else, is one of the greatest gifts that I can receive & give in my life.” – April-Anna

Her philosophy is rooted in awakening the joy, mystery, and imagination that art can stir.

Neurodivergent herself, April-Anna draws from a unique lens that celebrates inclusivity and challenges traditional boundaries, merging commercial artistry with fine art practice.

Highlights

  • 2025 – Artist with metal kiosk booth at Mural Festival, Montreal

  • 2015–present – Artist with booth at Taste of the Caribbean Festival, Montreal

  • 2024–2025 – 1-year paid copyright license of 3 artworks for virtual Festival Neuroqueer SIPO TV (Okast) is a digital platform created by the Quebec-based theater company Productions Sipo Matador to allow neurodivergent multi-discplinary artists to share, discover, and monetize their theatrical creations online.

  • 2021 – Please Don’t Spoil shortlisted & published by United Nations Academic Magazine – The Art of Climate Action

  • 2020 – Sponsored artist, Taboo Show Montreal & Vancouver

  • 2018 – Artist for Honda / Osheaga Festival – Honda Stage

  • 2017 – VIP artist at Osheaga Festival

  • 2006–2007 – Backstage VIP artist for Cirque du Soleil (4 contracts)

Press & Publications

Testimonials

“I actually won the costume contest at work and that was only because of your art… not one single person who saw me was not in awe of your talent. Truly, it was a beautiful painting done by hand through pure inspiration. Children stopped dead in their tracks with their mouths open when they saw me.” – Chrissy, Halloween Client (2017)

“April-Anna did a fantastic job at my daughter’s 4th birthday party. All the children were very happy and everyone was impressed with her designs and natural way with children. Definitely hiring again!” – Ashley Scourse (2016)

“My wedding was an Irish–Indian wedding… April-Anna did mehndi for about 40 to 50 of us. As the bride, my hands and feet looked beautiful. April-Anna was polite, talented, and accommodating.” – Mohini Singh, Reporter at CHBC-TV

Client & Event List 

  • 2025 – Artist with metal kiosk booth at Mural Festival, Montreal

  • 2015–present – Artist with booth at Taste of the Caribbean Festival, Montreal

  • 2022 – Wrote an article for Palette Skills

  • 2024–2025 – 1-year paid copyright license of 3 artworks for virtual Festival Neuroqueer SIPO TV (Okast) is a digital platform created by the Quebec-based theater company Productions Sipo Matador to allow neurodivergent multi-discplinary artists to share, discover, and monetize their theatrical creations online.

  • 2021 – Please Don’t Spoil shortlisted & published by United Nations Academic Magazine – The Art of Climate Action

  • 2020–2021 – Wrote and published multiple short stories for EA Designs (The Jollys ESL learning series, Asia)

  • 2020 – Sponsored artist, Taboo Show Montreal & Vancouver

  • 2018 – Artist for Honda / Osheaga Festival – Honda Stage

  • 2018 – DoubleTree by Hilton – Montreal Airport

  • 2018 – Fondation Guido Molinari

  • 2018 – NYX Cosmetics / L’Oréal Paris

  • 2017 – VIP artist at Osheaga Festival

  • 2017 – CIBC event

  • 2009 – Contract with Cirque Éloize

  • 2008–2016 – Regular bookings with Club Moomba

  • 2008 – Sainte-Justine Hospital Foundation

  • 2007 – Sub-contracted artist for Cirque du Soleil (2 contracts) through the agency Mindy Shear Makeup for the opening night of Koozå providing henna style body painting on models serving Bombay Sapphire Gin to VIP guests for 2 nights before opening to the public
  • 2006 – 2 Sub-contracted artist for Lumanessence for the employee summer party & employee Christmas party for Cirque du Soleil

  • 2001 – mehndi artist at Irish–Indian wedding featured on Kelowna News (CHBC-TV)

  • 1990s–early 2000s – Local community work in Merritt, Okanagan, and Fraser Valley (Parent Teacher Association of Westbank, Merritt Chamber of Commerce, Okanagan Adventure Company, etc.)

  • 1996 – Launched art business as Youth Entrepreneur, Merritt, BC

Other notable clients without specific years: Casino de Montréal, Molson Canadian Concerts, Campbell’s Soup, Yellow Pages, CLSC, Rise Kombucha, SAJO (ongoing), BBCM Foundation: Black & Blue, Festi’Art École secondaire Le Tremplin, Harmony Elementary School, Gogo Lounge, Upper Lounge, Milton Park Centre Children’s Day Camp, Western Star Trucks.

April-Anna is Neurodivergent: ADHD etc.

“Je fais de la musique avec les couleurs et la forme.” — April-Anna

April-Anna est une artiste multi-disciplinaire, originaire de la Vallée Fraser, de la Vallée Nicola et de la Vallée Okanagan en Colombie-Britannique, au Canada. Elle vit présentement à Montréal, au Québec. Depuis 1996, April-Anna fait fi des règles du monde artistique qui veulent qu’elle fasse un choix entre l’art commercial et les beaux-arts ; elle fait les deux.

Témoignage de l’artiste : “Ce que j’aime le plus de l’art est ce moment quand j’arrive à créer un résultat qui touche une corde musicale intérieure et qui réveille la “chanson du coeur” dans l’âme de quelqu’un. Réveiller l’enfant intérieur, voir la joie, la curiosité, la lumière, le mystère ou l’émerveillement dans les yeux de quelqu’un est très valorisant pour moi en tant qu’artiste. Inspirer quelqu’un d’autre est l’un des plus beaux cadeaux que je peux recevoir et donner dans la vie.”

April-Anna applying makeup

Testimonials / Témoignages

“I wanted to thank you again for all that you did. I actually won the costume contest at work and that was only because of your art. (That is pretty significant) I mean to say, that not one single person who saw me was not in awe of your talent. And that speaks volumes, truly.I’m still in awe of not only the exquisite piece.. literally, it was a beautiful painting you did by hand, just through inspiration.. but how you were willing to take me at such a crazy hour. I can really tell you I had so much fun with it. Children stopped dead in their tracks with their mouth open when they saw me.” – Chrissy, Wolf Red Riding Hood themed Halloween Make-up Client 2017

“April-Anna did a fantastic job at my daughters 4th birthday party, All the children were very happy and everyone was very impressed with her designs and natural way with children. Definitely hiring again!” – Ashley Scourse, 2016

“I was Married in 2001. My wedding was an Irish Indian wedding many of our friends had not experienced mehendi art. It was a joy to have April-Anna come and do mehendi for about 40 to 50 of us. April is very talented, her designs were beautiful and much appreciated by every one. She did my feet which looked fantastic. Being the bride it was important that my hands and feet look pretty. April-Anna was polite and willing to accomodate the wishes of everyone. I wish her great success in her future endeavours.” – Mohini Singh, Kelowna News Reporter at CHBC-TV

“April Anna provided upper body and face painting for my partner and I for our ceremony of commitment; she also stayed later to offer face painting to guests, both children and adults, during the reception. Because our event was immensely personal, we wanted the look to be both festive and tasteful, taking into account our theme of spring, rebirth and flowers. April-Anna worked with us as a collaborative artist and was astute at both listening and generating ideas throughout the process. The end results on both of us were stunning-colorful, theatrical, wild yet unquestionably appropriate. We received countless compliments on our appearance and our interesting choice of body paint for our outfits. Many of our guests chose to have their faces painted afterwards and were enchanted with the fairy-like masks they emerged with. April-Anna’s warm and bubbly personality was an added bonus and we both enjoyed our time with her as well as appreciating the wonderful artistic work she contributed to our most important day.” – Gail Schwartz

“Je me suis mariée en 2001. Mon mariage était un mélange d’irlandais et d’indien, et plusieurs de nos amis ne connaissaient pas l’art mehendi. Ce fût une joie d’accueillir April-Anna, qui a fait du mehendi pour 40 à 50 personnes. April est très talentueuse et ses motifs étaient très appréciés par tous les invités. Elle a maquillé mes pieds et ils avaient l’air super! Comme c’était moi la mariée, il était important que mes mains et mes pieds soient jolis. April-Anna était polie et flexible. Je lui souhaite un énorme succès dans le futur.” – Mohini Singh, journaliste pour Kelowna News à CHBC-TV

“April Anna a fait des maquillages de torse et de visage pour mon partenaire et moi-même lors de notre cérémonie d’engagement ; elle est restée plus tard pour maquiller nos invités — enfants et adultes — pendant la réception. Pour cette cérémonie très personnelle, nous voulions un look festif mais de bon goût, qui refléterait notre thématique du printemps, de la renaissance et des fleurs. April-Anna a travaillé avec nous en tant qu’artiste collaborative et s’est avérée d’une bonne écoute tout en générant des idées tout au long du processus. Les résultats étaient à en perdre le souffle — colorés, théâtraux, sauvages…tout en demeurant tout à fait appropriés. Nous avons reçu d’innombrables compliments sur notre apparence et notre choix intéressant de maquillage corporel pour nos “habits”. Plusieurs invités ont choisi de se faire maquiller le visage après la cérémonie et ils ont été enchantés par leurs masques féériques. La personnalité accueillante et pétillante d’April-Anna était un plus et nous avons bien apprécié notre temps passé avec elle ainsi que les oeuvres artistiques qu’elle a contribué à notre journée spéciale.” – Gail Schwartz

PAST EVENTS

PUBLICATIONS/PRESS

PERSONAL PROJECTS

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