Marina Jijina was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Soviet Union on July 9, 1972. As soon as she could hold a pencil Marina was sketching images from her mind and scenes of her childhood with unusual skill. The education authorities recognized her precocious talent, and Marina entered the Ioganson Secondary Fine Arts School at the Academy of Fine Arts of Russia aged 11 years.

The prestigious Academy of Fine Arts gave Marina a rigorous classical and traditional teaching of drawing, painting and the history of art over 7 years. Although Marina has since moved forward from straightforward realism as such, her classical education formed an invaluable base on which to continue her artistic development.

Marina's artistic influences are many, diverse and significant to her work. They include Modigliani, Hieronymous Bosch, Mikhail Vrubel, L.S. Lowry and Pablo Picasso. Marina has created an eclectic and ever-changing body of art, and her subject matter encompasses her family & friends, events in her life, religion, nature and her beloved Saint Petersburg. Painting to Marina is (in her words) "a spiritual search for truth and meaning". The emotional experiences of everyday life are her inspiration.

A recurring theme is her place of birth and hometown for 28 years. The atmosphere, cultural traditions, heritage, people and shapes of Saint Petersburg draw Marina to her easel time and time again. Occasionally Marina draws instantly recognizable features of the town, but more often she paints an interpretation of the place which attempts to reveal the spirit and feel of the city. Marina is interested in the inner personality of a city and its inhabitants that have suffered so greatly over the past century.

Marina is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church and has always had a deep interest in religion. The painting Madonna was the acknowledged highlight of her successful January 1998 exhibition "Phantoms of Saint Petersburg", at the Café Idiot Art Gallery. This work now hangs in a private collection in England.

For several years Marina was mentored by the respected Russian artist Valentin Savchuck (Head Designer of the October Concert Hall, Saint Petersburg). In the words of Valentin:

"Marina has mastered the basics of classical drawing and studied the principal laws of painting… Marina may be characterized as a highly individual painter. In her pictures a good feeling of color is combined with an inherent sense of line drawing. She has an impeccable taste for color and composition, rich imagination and is interested in creating new forms."

Marina is not a conventional painter and does not pander to what is commercial/saleable. Her art is a combination of what is visible to the eye with an interpretation of the underlying essence of the subject. Despite (perhaps because of) this uncompromising approach her works have sold well and currently hang in private collections as far afield as the United Kingdom, France, Iceland, Russia, Mexico, Sweden and the United States. One of her works even graces the house of world famous artist-musician Brian Eno.

In September 2000 Marina moved to England, and in June 2003 she resumed her painting with a vengeance. Marina’s work has been sold through arTzu Gallery, Manchester and Gallery 22, Hale. In February 2004 Marina displayed some of her art at the C-Art Exhibition in Lancaster, England.

In March 2007 Marina staged a critically acclaimed solo exhibition of her recent work in Altrincham's upscale Halo Showroom. The exhibition was entitled "Intentions of the Mind', and included a live performance act. 'Intentions of the Mind' was dedicated to Marina's late art teacher Marina Davidovna Levina (1948-2004).

The series of 13 portraits explores a variety of psychological states, described by the artist as Facing It, Builder, Nurse, Wise, Crawler, Red, Unbearable Thoughts, Dwelling on the Past, Clarity, Sweet Dreams, No Intention, Youth and Execution. In Marina's words:

"I have tried to distinguish a category of distinct psychological states significant to our life experiences,"

Marina's subject matter is related to the branch of philosophy known as 'Theory of Mind'. It has inspired Marina's latest artistic direction.

September 17, 2007