Desert Flora Painting

I’ve always loved tropical leaf shapes, especially Ferns, Palms and Cacti. They are unashamedly bold and exotic. Linear and sharp from California to Cornwall like green fireworks they punctuate the sky and evoke in me memories from holidays of old. Images of over exposed polaroid snaps, olive oil, garlic, cotton towels and sandy sandals. Then deep in the shadows there are the softer lush rippling ferns flowing out from the cool shade like green streams or in feather like plumes. I am often asked to describe my work. I paint semi abstract flowers is my usual response, but if you imagine a cocktail of William Morris and Rousseau in an English meadow, with a splash of Klimt and a squeeze of Jungle book you get a visual clue. Coming from a family of artists, Shyama grew up in the world of fine art, first exhibiting her work at the age of seven in London. Along with working for a wide range of creative companies she maintains a strong focus on her personal work as an artist, often painting to commission and regularly exhibiting and publishing limited edition prints. Shyama lives in Brighton and works from her garden studio.