Rea Nurmi was born in Helsinki, Finland, and her journey as an artist began in 1986, when she embarked on a life of adventure traveling half-way around the world, hiking in New Zealand, scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, exploring the beaches of Hawaii, and discovering Tahiti's Moorea Island in the South Pacific.

Striking in their composition and color, Rea Nurmi's paintings and commissioned murals done in hospitals and convalescent homes reflect a devotion to the beauty of nature, and communicate an unmistakable enthusiasm and joy. She now calls this the concept of Healing Walls. "My intention is to bring color to the world and take art where it is needed most..."

After coming to the United States in 1973, she studied electrical engineering and worked as a designer in engineering firms, and later began her formal study in Art. Encouraged by artist Corinne Nebil, she developed an appreciation for the essence of pastel, which has become he primary medium. She has also studied in workshops with Daniel Greene and with Flora B. Giffuni at the Pastel Society of America in New York City, where she received scholarships.