Born and raised in Germany Anke moved with her family to Illinois in 1979.She went back to school and studied Interior Design and Art.She had a design business for over 20 years and decided in 2001 to go back to her love of painting.Establishing a studio at her farmhouse in Michigan she joined a local artist group and opened her studio to the public during the summers. From there she gained a vast group of clients that appreciated her unique style in her mixed media technique using photography and acrylic paints.