Hi I’m Anna McNaught.

I’m an award-winning digital artist, Photoshop compositor, photographer, educator and Sr. Digital Imaging Evangelist at Adobe (yes it’s a mouth full!) with over 15 years of professional experience. 

I create dreamy and surreal art in Photoshop (and on canvas, paper, or whatever other medium I have lying around) inspired by nature, outer space, and mystical concepts.

In addition to making my own art, I also teach aspiring creators Photoshop and how to grow businesses of their own.

When I’m not creating art or teaching, you’ll find me out exploring the world (check out Leave The Map) and most likely, lost somewhere in nature. 🌿

Read my full story below…

CLIENTS INCLUDE:

 

 
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MY STORY

For as long as I can remember, I've had a passion for art, photography, design, teaching, and the outdoors. As a kid, I was always exploring my home state of Pennsylvania with a camera or paintbrush in hand. Whether snapping photos of my friends with a disposable camera, drawing flowers, or just observing the world around me, I was constantly capturing the beauty of our fascinating planet.

Art and teaching are in my blood. My late grandfather was a well-known children’s book illustrator, my grandmother was an artist and fashion illustrator, and my parents were both environmental educators with a knack for inspiring future generations.

My story truly begins after college when I packed up and moved across the country to Los Angeles to pursue a career in fashion photography. However, I quickly discovered that the fashion industry wasn't the right fit for me. While it works out for a very select few, it wasn't the career path I was meant to take, and I found myself starting from square one.

I spent over six months pounding the Hollywood pavement, submitting dozens of job applications daily, and scouring Craigslist for any opportunity, whether related to my career choice or not. During this time, I managed to secure internships with a few photographers, gaining valuable experience, but these positions were unpaid. Reluctantly, I took a part-time job selling solar panels door-to-door to earn some much-needed income. In hindsight, this was a great introduction to public speaking and significantly boosted my confidence when talking to strangers!

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My first break finally came when I landed a job as an in-house corporate graphic designer. It was your typical windowless 9-to-5 with strict design guidelines, and after several months, I realized something was missing. My creativity had evaporated. I was at rock bottom, ready to pack up and head home.

Then I had an epiphany: if I was going to survive, I needed to reinvent my career path. In the largely male-dominated Photoshop world on Instagram, I aspired to be the premier female digital artist. I decided to carve out my own niche, combining my love of photography and graphic design.

If there wasn’t a job for me, I was going to create it.

I took a chance and started posting my surreal Photoshop creations. These pieces quickly gained recognition, opening up a whole world of art shows, galleries, and new creative challenges. Soon, I was making enough money from my art to take a leap out of my comfort zone, quit my 9-to-5 job, and branch out on my own.

After finding some success with my business, I wanted to give back to the community. After long hours of research, classes, certifications, and pep talks, I started a blog formerly called The Liked Photo where I ran online courses and workshops teaching people how to take better photos, master Photoshop, and market themselves more effectively on Instagram.

During this time, my husband and I were living in Los Angeles and in desperate need of a major change. We decided to leave LA, buy a camper van, and travel the U.S. full-time. Our little weekend-warrior Instagram page that we started together, called Leave The Map, quickly grew into a full-fledged business. We spent two years working from the road with our cat, Lucy, in tow. In fact, she visited more states than most humans I know. Our momentum was halted when the world shut down in 2020, and we were forced to make a shift once again. With the knowledge we had both gained from our previous jobs and Leave The Map, we started a mastermind program teaching students how to become entrepreneurs and grow their businesses during times of uncertainty. My love of teaching continued to blossom, and I knew that there was more to come.

After years of creating and sharing my art on Instagram, I landed a dream job at Adobe as a Senior Digital Imaging Evangelist. Now, I get to inspire and support others in their creative endeavors, continuing to push the boundaries of digital art.

It was far from easy. Along the way, I faced heartbreak, immense grief, loss, rejection, and countless moments of picking myself up off the floor again and again. For those of you just starting out in your careers, remember that setbacks are part of the journey. Stay resilient, keep pushing forward, and don't be afraid to carve your own path. Your passion and perseverance will pay off. My story continues from here, as will yours. The journey is never over, and that’s the beauty of life!

 For press and media use:

Anna McNaught is an award-winning artist, Photoshop compositor, photographer, educator, and Sr. Digital Imaging Evangelist at Adobe. Anna creates vibrant, glowing dreamscapes inspired by surrealism, dreams, and nature by compositing photography, paintings, AI, and 3D in Photoshop. Driven by the idea that art CAN make a difference in the world, Anna has used the strength of her online presence to inspire others and teach fellow artists to create their own masterpieces using Photoshop. And in this pursuit, her hard work and imagination have garnered recognition from renowned clients like Adobe, NASA, Crocs, Audi, Marriott, Getty Images, and hotels worldwide. She's been published by Forbes, Thrive Global, Bored Panda, and more and has become a thought-provoking female leader in the digital world. When she's not creating digital art, she pursues a life of creative freedom and exploration, traveling the open road and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

Pease visit annamcnaught.com and on Instagram @annamcnaughty.