Anna Slepneva, also known as Anna Sirin, is a Russian illustrator and comics artist, based in London. Anna is interested in telling stories through her work, finding inspiration in everyday moments, personal narratives, and life’s small details.

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Lately, she has been identifying herself as a documentary illustrator, working with real stories—both her own and those of others. In her projects, she combines classic comics language with archival materials, essays, and illustration. Anna’s work focuses on people—their emotions, memory, identity, and personal histories. The communication of feelings, the creation of an impression, and the effect of being a witness are central to her artistic approach.

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Currently, Anna is a PhD researcher at the University of the Arts London, exploring Russian documentary comics as a form of personal and political expression. She presented part of this research at Unfolding Narratives, an exhibition of doctoral projects at LCC.

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Alongside her research and illustration practice, Anna designs and runs creative workshops on autobiographical and documentary comics. These workshops have been delivered in various academic and public settings, encouraging participants to explore their own stories through drawing and visual storytelling.

In terms of techniques, Anna is drawn to the lively language of sketching and enjoys working with materials such as charcoal and graphite, or their digital equivalents, as well as analog printing methods.