
Natalya Nesterova
Watercolor artist, Marinist.
All my artwork is a love letter to the sea and its elements. I have always been fascinated by the idea of capturing the beauty and power of the sea through various mediums: pastel, oil, watercolor. However, it was watercolor, with its depth and limitless possibilities for exploration, that became my primary technique.
For several years, I was involved in sailing, participated in regattas, endured storms, and worked in challenging conditions. Those moments on the water revealed to me a different world of the sea — far from the shore. It is a place where the raging elements reflect divine will, where power and harmony intertwine in a single act. This is why my work often focuses on dramatic scenes and storms.
My goal is not just to convey a visual image but to evoke feelings: the taste of salt on the lips, the sound of waves, and the gusts of wind on the skin. These are the emotions I aim to embed in my work.
Through exploring materials, I have realized that scale plays a crucial role in conveying marine panoramas. Large formats allow for a deeper immersion into the subject but also present new technical challenges. This is my next step as an artist — to find harmony between scale and skill while keeping the spirit of the sea at the forefront.
Достижения (награды, статьи, выставки)
Honorary Artist of Russia and Europe, Corresponding member of the International Academy of Contemporary Arts, member of the Artists’ Union of Russia, Creative Union of Artists of Russia, Watercolorists’ Union of Russia, Professional Artists’ Union, Eurasian Art Society, International Watercolor Society, associate member of the American Watercolor Society.
Conducting active competitive and exhibition activities: winner and participant of more than 120 exhibitions (USA, England, France, Italy, Serbia, China, Japan, Mexico, Russia).
15 personal exhibitions. Artworks in private collections, in the house-museum of A.N. Beketova, (Alushta), Simferopol Art Museum.
Significant Achievements
– Diploma named after Arkhip Kuindzhi (for the poetization of nature, flora and fauna), Russian Art Awards, Moscow, 2025
– 3rd place, Russian Watercolor Art Awards, Graphic Art section, Moscow, 2025
– Top 100 International Art Festival "Rivers of Color", Mexico, 2025
– 1st place at the international watercolor competition "Watercolorium", Moscow, 2025
– 1st and 2nd places at the International Contemporary Art Exhibition-Competition "Russian Art Week", Moscow, 2025
– 2nd place at the International Exhibition "Grand Masters", Moscow, 2024
– Gold medals at the Art.Excellence.Award competition, International Academy of Contemporary Arts, 2023–2025
– TOP 100 of the 4th International Youth Online Exhibition "Masters of Watercolor" IMWA, China, 2023