Although primarily self-taught, Karina also studied part-time in the UK at Reigate School of Art with Michael Noakes, at Whitechapel Art School and at Morley College with sculptor Alan Thornhill. She originally studied life drawing, subsequently moving to specialise in interior portraits.
Her clients have included the Sultan of Brunei and his family and many hotels, including The Dorchester in London as well as working internationally for the Marriott, Intercontinental, Hyatt and Four Seasons groups.
When based in Singapore in the 1990's Karina established and ran an interior design company for five years before returning to Europe to focus on producing interior portraits and perspective drawings.