Many roots, one journey
I'm a third-generation New Zealander — my parents and grandparents were all born in Fiji, except for my grandmother, who was born here. Further back, my family's roots trace through Gujarat, Afghanistan, Russia, Germany and Ireland, and my husband was born in Iraq with Turkish ancestry of his own. The Silk Road had always fascinated me, long before I understood why.
The first spark
That fascination took me places. A first trip to Morocco and Spain in 2016 left me captivated by the architecture and calligraphy, later inspiring a children's book I wrote set in Marrakesh. Schooling in Sharjah led to teaching in Doha from 2018, where my practical journey began with basic Moroccan calligraphy and pottery at Souq Waqif Art Centre. A two-week trip to India sparked a fascination with Mughal art.
Istanbul: where I began painting
When my son was eighteen months old, we moved to Istanbul, where I began learning Tezhip under my teacher, Hoca Fatma, at her atelier Darrüssanat in 2022 — continuing under her mentorship for another year after we returned home.
The journey continues
Living in Dubai in 2023 then took us through Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. After having my daughter in 2024, I began studying Maghribi illumination. Along the way, I've now travelled to 21 countries.
I am currently studying Maghribi illumination, geometric patterns, and Maghribi and Andalusian calligraphy with my mentors Esra Aslan, Fouad Blili and Badr Essaihi.
Tea, companionship and a place to heal
I started those first classes in Istanbul out of loneliness in a new country, and I'll admit I didn't love the art itself at first. I kept going for the tea, and the quiet company of women who didn't speak my language but whose presence was peaceful all the same — especially while I was grieving the loss of two grandparents during that year abroad.
Painting became how I coped, and it still is. I paint in the pockets of time my children are asleep, and I feel it when I go too long without it.
My own chapter, here in Aotearoa
Carrying this heritage as a Kiwi hasn't always been simple — for years I shied away from showing the beautiful parts of my faith — but travelling and learning this craft taught me that being different is exactly what makes us valuable.
I want to add my own chapter to this living tradition: bringing the patience and beauty of Islamic illumination into contemporary homes here in New Zealand. My hope is that the next generation will recognise the skill of the masters who shaped it, appreciate the teachers who continue to share it, and feel inspired to carry it forward.
I've left a piece of my heart in every place I've lived. And still, I always come home to New Zealand.
