Coloring the day away at the age of four, Irene Veltman knew at a young age she wanted to become an artist. With the introduction to the Old Masters her fascination for art and technique became indisputable.

While pursuing her art career at Minerva Academy, she began doing commissions, as well as selling autonomous work.
As a student she researched themes such as das Unheimliche (Uncanny), a German term which can be divided into two. Unheimlich itself translates into something ominous, enigmatic or even sinister. Heimlich on the other hand, means familiar of homey. Therefore, Unheimlich is something that may seem familiar, but at the same time feels strange and unsettling, without being able to pinpoint what it is exactly.

In 2013 she was awarded the Coba de Groot Stipend for the most promising Frisian artist.
After the exploration of the conceptual side of art, which is inherent to contemporary Dutch art academies, Irene felt the need to advance her technical skill which led her to do an intensive course in early 2014 at the Florence Academy of Art.
Her work became part of the Drents Museum collection in 2014 and that same year, at age 23, she had her first solo show.