A story in
every cut.

My work grows from Islamic stories, calligraphy and the values they carry. I am interested in love, compassion, empathy and the relationships that connect people. The intricate surface draws viewers closer; the story behind it offers another way into the work. I hope that encounter opens a conversation about what we share.

Sources: Sound Telegraph · Gulf News

I explore stories, teachings and ideas through calligraphy, symbols and carefully constructed compositions. Works inspired by the Prophet’s life reflect its events and messages. Understanding the story comes before developing its visual form; the intention is to invite reflection on its meaning.

Sources: Curator’s commentary · Gulf News

Faith is an important starting point, but the human values in these stories reach beyond a single community. I want people from different backgrounds to find an entry point through the craftsmanship, the imagery or the story. Love, kindness and empathy give us a shared language for that conversation.

Sources: Gulf News

I drew with pen and ink before discovering paper cutting. A simple folded-paper sunflower made with my daughter opened up a new direction. I began exploring how this delicate craft could carry the detail and storytelling of Islamic art.

Sources: Sound Telegraph · All Things Paper

I research the story first, then work through drawings and the composition. In my 2018 Sound Telegraph interview, I described research and drawing as about 70 per cent of the process. The planning matters because the design must communicate its story and remain structurally connected as material is removed.

Sources: Sound Telegraph · Curator’s commentary

The design depends on both what I cut away and what remains. Fine connections hold the image together, so removing an area affects the whole composition. Farrah Mahmood’s exhibition commentary describes the reverse-image planning behind this process: unwanted areas are removed while the remaining sheet carries the narrative.

Sources: Curator’s commentary

Many of my paper-cut compositions begin as a single sheet, with patterns and symbols cut into it by hand. Some works also use coloured layers or mounting arrangements to create depth. The construction varies by artwork, so a caption should describe the particular piece rather than assume every work uses the same method.

Sources: Sound Telegraph · Gulf News

For fine hand cutting I use a precision scalpel, typically an Excel #11 blade. I select paper that can support delicate cuts. I also work with self-textured vinyl, particularly for larger compositions and its effect under lighting. The material should be identified for each artwork; “paper-cutting artist” describes my practice, not every work’s substrate.

Sources: All Things Paper · Artist’s catalogue

A complex piece can take two to three months, including its research, drawing and cutting. The time varies with scale and detail. Cutting requires sustained attention: a mistake can damage a connection that the rest of the image depends on, so patience is part of the technique.

Sources: Curator’s commentary · Gulf News

The cut surface is only part of the experience. When a work is mounted away from its background and lit, its openings and edges can cast shadows. This adds another visual layer and changes how a viewer perceives the depth of a flat sheet. Presentation and lighting help reveal the delicacy of the cutting.

Sources: The Express Tribune

Tree of Life brings birds, flowers and foliage into a connected composition, reflecting life and renewal. Surah Qadr responds to the Qur’an’s chapter on the Night of Decree, with its themes of revelation and peace. A Drop of Faith draws on a parable about a bird carrying water towards the fire of Abraham: the importance of doing one’s part. That parable should not be presented as a quotation from the Qur’an.

Sources: Artist’s catalogue

They make room to share the making process as well as the finished artwork. In workshops, participants can encounter the patience and concentration involved in paper cutting. At community gatherings I share the stories behind the pieces, giving people a starting point for conversation about culture, craft and connection.

Sources: Rockingham / Kwinana Inspire · The News International