Esra Alhamal

I am Esra Alhamal, a Saudi artist, educator podcaster and paint-maker based in London, UK. My focus is traditional Islamic patterns and my speciality is biomorphic patterns painted in illumination style. I have been researching this area as part of my PhD for the past few years as well. I am fascinated by patterns, their variety, all the possible motif combinations and how they can be painted to bring endless patterns to life. I paint, teach and research biomorphic patterns the majority of my time.

Traditional art in general intrigues me hence why I started the Art illuminated podcast to talk to artists and crafters about their contemporary work is inspired by traditional practice. This interest is also the reason I started making watercolours and co-founding Bristle and Brush Art, where I make paints from genuine materials to use in my art work in a similar fashion to the traditional Islamic "arts of the book".