About Us

The artwork for Anneli Publishing is the work of Melbourne artist Kerttu Rintala.

Kerttu was born in Finland and it was there that she received her first watercolor lessons. Very early her teacher noticed a flair with a brush and encouraged Kerttu to pursue watercolor painting.

Kerttu moved to Australia as a child in 1964 and was immediately struck by the many different flora and fauna. It was some time later however that she took up the brushes and paints. Getting married and raising two boys added to the delay but in 1981 the painting started in earnest.

Kerttu entered many art shows and had some success selling many paintings. As a largely self taught painter she has studied constantly, improving her use of colors, tones and different materials. As she says “One never stops learning..”

When her grandson Aiden was nearly eight she wanted to give him something special. So for his eighth birthday she wrote and illustrated “Forest Friends”. From that first illustrated book it took quite some time to to refine for eventual publishing but the next two years would see a further eight books produced in total. Forest Friends and Afternoon with William and Walter have been translated into Finnish language and the rest of her books are soon to be translated as well

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