Against the Current

From the Outside, Everything Looked Stable

Ruben's story did not begin in a studio. It began with instinct, creativity, and a quiet feeling that the signs had always been there. As a teenager he dreamed of becoming a car designer. But growing up in Gran Canaria as the eldest of four siblings, studying abroad felt unrealistic. That path led him first to advertising, then to marketing — a Master's in London, a successful career in multinational companies. From the outside, everything looked stable. But deep down, another life was waiting.

From the outside, everything looked stable.

The Shift

In 2017, at the age of 42, something shifted. After losing more than twenty kilograms and completing Ironman Lanzarote, Ruben felt a confidence he had never known. A few months later he realised that although his life looked successful, he was not fully happy. Then, by chance, he discovered the work of Portuguese artist Carla Sá Fernandes, and one thought stayed with him: if someone else can do it, perhaps I can too. That summer, he decided to become a painter.

Sometimes the life waiting for us begins the moment we stop following the one expected of us.

No Roadmap, Only Instinct

There was no art school. No mentor. No artistic circle. No roadmap. When Ruben returned to Madrid, he simply began painting every day. Day after day, canvas after canvas, he began to understand his own language. Slowly, he discovered his voice — and that voice became the foundation of everything he does today.

For Ruben, the image was always clear: crystal-blue water and the feeling of floating peacefully above the seabed. Growing up in the Canary Islands, the sea was part of his memory, movement, and identity. Then he painted one swimmer moving in the opposite direction from everyone else. That swimmer became a symbol of authenticity — not rebellion, not ambition, simply the courage to follow your own path.

Something Shared

Above all, Ruben hopes people feel recognised when they see his work. His paintings are not created to tell people what to think — they are spaces where viewers can bring their own memories and emotions. The most meaningful moments come when collectors tell him a painting reminds them of a moment in their own lives. That is when the work becomes more than an image. It becomes something shared.

The Body in Water

Ruben is drawn to the simplicity of the human body in water. When we swim, there is very little between ourselves and nature. No status symbols. No distractions. No possessions. Just a body moving through a natural environment. The body represents the individual. Water represents life. And emotion is created through the relationship between the two.

The current will always exist. What matters is continuing to swim.

His Message

Challenge yourself more often — not always with enormous goals, but with small ones. Small challenges build confidence. Confidence leads to bigger challenges. And slowly, we begin to do things that once felt impossible. Be honest with yourself. Keep moving. Do not let fear make decisions on your behalf.