Although Afaf Abdullah AlEssa started painting in 2001, at a young age she had always had an eye for the arts and creativity. Prior to turning her hobby into a full-time profession, AlEssa was occupied raising her family and maintaining a healthy career as HR Manager in the Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait. Her academic background includes a Bachelor's Degree from Kuwait University. She is also a member of the Kuwait Arts Association.

With her keen eye for vibrant colors she uses her known symbols, such as the eye, heart, flowers and the crescent moon, to showcase her love for optimism in all of its forms.

Seeking inspiration from her surroundings, AlEssa manages to grasp the positive from her everyday life and paint it on canvas. In her acrylic message the eye symbolizes the reflective mirror to life and serves as an emotional barometer, while the heart stands for sympathy, love and affection. The flowers are the harbingers of positivity and icons of happiness. Finally, the crescent moon symbolizes the arrival of optimist energy and metaphorically equates the force of gravity with passionate attraction.

Afaf AlEssa has been working on her art for more than two decades, however, she still considers herself a forever-student to the subject and has chosen to take this journey a step further by attending courses, the last of which was at St. Martin's College for Fine Arts in London, UK. She has had a number of her works exhibited locally and regionally.