The Old Silat Fighter Painting

Shah Wali is the "brush name" of an Anglo-Irish artist with a background in humanitarian aid work. He has lived in Asia for most of the 21st Century, and has borne witness to almost a decade of conflict and violence. Many of his paintings reflect his experiences in places as diverse as Kabul and Southern Thailand. He speaks Thai, Persian, Pashto, Arabic and a little Malay, and is strongly influenced by the art of these cultures. Another firm influence is the work of the British artist Charlie Johnson Payne, better known as "Snaffles". Shah Wali grew up surrounded by Snaffles' works, and later began to incorporate elements of that iconic style into his own work.