Saima Rasheed

I paint to forge meaningful connections with the earth beneath my feet and to build new memories through light and colour. For me, painting is akin to writing poetry—each mark a verse, each stroke a line. The love and peace in Rumi’s poetry echo in my creative spirit.  About me   Born and raised in Pakistan, I have always been drawn to art. I remember how, as a girl child, restrictive conditions often confined me indoors, forbidden to play on the streets after a certain age. This solitude, however, became a gateway to endless hours of drawing and painting, allowing my imagination to flourish.   Now a UK-based artist, I was born in Lahore and graduated in Pakistan with a major in Miniature Painting. In 2020, I completed my MA in Fine Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University with distinction. Over the years, I have exhibited extensively in galleries and biennales worldwide, including the Asia Triennial Manchester, Art Contact, and the Istanbul Art Fair in 2021. In 2018, I was shortlisted for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, and in 2016, I was invited to display my work at the Colombo Biennale in Sri Lanka. I have also been nominated for the Jameel Art Prize.    My artistic journey has seen an evolution from the intricate details of miniature painting to large, experimental abstract works inspired by nature and emotions.