Maria Portell was born in Madrid, where she graduated as a teacher, specialising in Spanish Grammar. She worked at elementary and middle schools in Madrid and Barcelona while collaborating with other educational centres, helping with the Spanish Language curriculum.
From a young age, Maria demonstrated a talent for art, which is why she also took some courses at the School of Fine Arts in Madrid. A few years later she moved to the USA, to the state of Florida, where she taught Spanish and Art classes at elementary and middle schools until her retirement.
Her passions are animals, nature, writing, art, reading, and travelling to foreign countries. Maria currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her pets, and travels out of the country twice a year.