Originally from Moscow, Russia, Nelly Riekse now resides in Michigan with her husband and son. Throughout her life, she has used her creative drive in many areas, including theatre, film production, advertising, TV, and photography. While working for Moscow TV, she worked as a makeup artist dealing with important and famous personalities such as attending to the makeup of Russian President Gorbochof and other leading Russian political leaders and figures when they appeared on Moscow TV. Also, she has had work in painting and illustrating and has had exhibitions in various galleries in the United States. Nelly Riekse has also worked with her father, Dr Evgeny Shiryaev, PhD, a renowned Russian scientist and painter, on joint art projects. Her father has been her best teacher in art and especially in oil painting.