Uzma Sultan, Cherry blossom, oil pastel and oil on canvas, 20x15cm

“During the covid lockdowns, I became very interested in nature and drawing plein air- a very good excuse to be outdoors. That took me drawing, in local gardens and green areas.

For this project, I chose the cheal’s weeping cherry tree, on my recent visit to the Kew gardens. Also known as kiku shidare zakura and has pink pom-pom like flowers.

Just delightful!”

Uzma Sultan lives and works in London. She is one of the commended artists for the Moth Art Prize 2021, a winner of the Newsprint Open 2021 and longlisted for Jacksons Painting Prize 2022. Beep Painting Prize Biennial 2020 / 2022, at the Elysium Gallery, Swansea. Townhouse Summer Open 2022/ 2023 Spitalsfield E1, ING Discerning Eye 2020/2022. This year’s exhibitions include Artspace ‘23 at Old Pacels Office, Scarborough, Townhouse Open ‘23, Stardust, Edition X, Museo Archealogico, Atri, Abruzzo, A Generous Space 3, Huddersfield Art Gallery, and is the recipient for 2024-25 Kunstler zu Gast in Harburg residency in Hamburg.

Looking at how the painting practice changed, during and through a 2 year global pandemic. These paintings along with others, evolved as the world shut down, becoming more aware and in tune with nature and animals. Since then, drawing nature outdoors plein air is an obsession.