Art for a new generation

Manchester born Ranaaz Shahid is becoming one of the UK’s most influential artists of this generation to merge both Islam and art.

Attending an all Girls Islamic high school, she was already immersed in the influences of Islam, but never thought she would be visually ’flabbergasted’ by the intricacies of Arabic calligraphy.

Thus far, the expanse of Ranaaz’s work has allowed her to showcase her art pieces in the ‘Who Is Muhammad’ campaign held in London, which in turn, gave her the confidence to compete in and win one of the highest accolades at an Islamic Art & Calligraphy event.

Competing with artists that have spent decades on their art is a testament to Raanaz’s tenacity.
She said: “My dad looked everywhere, and you couldn’t find things as easily back then, as you can now with the internet, so he suggested I get two pencils, cello tape them together for now, and use them to practice with in the mean time”.

“As rudimentary as it sounds, the simple makeshift tool she created honed in and surmises how effortless she has now become with Arabic calligraphy.

Ranaaz naturally progressed onto studying Art & Design at an Advanced level.

Having already struck a chord with her both spiritually and visually, Ranaaz wanted to refine her already expanding skill-set. “Arabic not being my first language, it’s very easy to make mistakes especially with Arabic, just by changing the stroke of one letter can change the whole meaning of the word”.

With the personal growth of marriage, which bore the fruit that is her daughter Jemimah, this did not stop her from continuing to showcase her artwork.

Ranaaz, a contemporary artist of Islamic and abstract design. goes onto explain the challenges she faced of wanting to continue her artwork but moving into a small two-bedroom flat restricted the space needed to create her art pieces whilst at the same time expecting a baby.

“After my daughter was born, my husband’s [work] contract moved to Derby. So a first time mother, in a new town, moving house, leaving family behind when I would need them the most and juggling my art career was definitely a challenge.

“With my family’s, I’ve been able to continue with my creativity, and thanks to my husband, who has affectionately had a studio built for me.”

With little Jemimah in tow, so began the juggling act of being a wife, mother and full time artist, which, it seems, she makes looks easy.

Unperturbed, Ranaaz embraced these changes, one primarily of motherhood; the awareness of her work quickly grew through word of mouth in the UK, with Ahlan Art based in London and now in Dubai.

Dubai being an epicenter of both the modern age and traditional heritage of the Arab world, Ranaaz relished in the opportunity to showcase her work to a wider audience which she will go on to exhibit further in the near future.

“One question that I always get asked is if I would teach Arabic Calligraphy?, my answer is always ‘no’, not yet. I’m at that stage now where I have one idea after another and love producing new pieces.
“Until I have not tried every idea out there I’m not ready to teach yet.” Evidently, to be a perfectionist, seems to be an understatement.”