Natalia Smirnova was born in Leningrad (St Petersburg). At St Petersburg Art School N. Roerich in 1990 she qualified as an art restorer. She has thoroughly studied the Russian Orthodox tradition, and for twenty years has been engaged in the restoration of ancient Russian icons. She is currently interested in Judaism. Smirnova’s paintings are a way to explain to herself the religious world-view. Her art uses the language of symbols and allegories typical of medieval icons.