In June 2025, crafters, artists and artist groups were invited to design and create a craft-based artwork to decorate one of the pillars at the Milton Keynes Rose, to reflect one or both of the themes of, White Ribbon Day 2025 Theme: We Speak Up, and Orange the World to end violence against women'. I created my craft piece, 'THEY SPOKE: AND WE ROSE', as my tribute to the courageous Pakistani Women who broke barriers and raised their voices against injustice, violence and oppression. The pillar honours those who stood for education, identity and rights; transforming personal and communal struggles into national inspiration for women. From facing violence and surviving injustice, to earning global recognition, including Nobel Prize and international acclaims, these trailblazers lit the path for generations of daughters to dream, speak, and RISE! Crafted from recycled paper, cardboard, and papier-mâché (fragile materials strengthened when glued together), the pillar itself symbolizes resilience and the enduring strength of these women. Their voices continue to echo through this work, reminding us that lasting change begins when even one voice dares to be heard.
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It was a real pleasure to represent Westbury Arts Centre and the Artists Collective at the Cultural Festival held at the Milton Keynes Museum. The event had a wonderful atmosphere and was well attended by local families. It was a joy to share the story of Westbury, introduce the collective, and talk about the creative opportunities we offer. We hosted some colouring activities for children, and it was heartwarming to see so many young ones engaging enthusiastically in artistic play. The positive response from visitors was truly overwhelming. I also had the chance to promote my upcoming exhibition, 'Bridges of Time', which will be part of the Heritage Open Days this September. Many people expressed genuine interest in my artistic technique and subject matter, and their encouragement meant a lot. Thank you to everyone who stopped by—it was a memorable day!
I was recently commissioned to design a festive card for a local Milton Keynes MP. The brief was to encapsulate the seasonal spirit while reflecting the city's identity and core values. Emphasizing inclusivity, peace, and the symbolic significance of "light" during the winter months, the design aimed to celebrate the diverse and united community of Milton Keynes. To bring this vision to life, I selected iconic buildings and landmarks that best represented these themes. The Milton Keynes Central Library was chosen as a beacon of wisdom and enlightenment, reflecting the power of knowledge. The Peace Pagoda symbolized harmony and unity, reinforcing the city's commitment to bringing people together. Christ the Cornerstone Church, known for its ecumenical nature, highlighted faith, light, and the unifying spirit of different religious communities. In addition to these meaningful landmarks, the Concrete Cows made an appearance, adding a touch of Milton Keynes' unique character and playful charm. The Milton Keynes Rose was also featured, symbolizing the community’s shared values, historical milestones, and moments of remembrance. I was thrilled with how the design came together, seamlessly weaving these elements into a piece that felt both festive and deeply connected to Milton Keynes. The client was equally pleased with the result, making the entire process an immensely rewarding experience. More than just a holiday greeting, this card served as a tribute to the vibrant, inclusive, and united community that makes Milton Keynes such a special place.
I was invited by the Truby's Garden Tea Room: an interfaith cafe run by the British Muslim Women, for their Event, 'Grow and Glow' on 14th September 2024. The idea of the event was to share the importance of pursuing a hobby, positive attitude and selfcare for mental and physical wellbeing of women. I talked about my journey as an artist: from studying architecture in Pakistan and taking up mixed media art full time during Covid-19 Lockdown. It was a pleasure to share my journey with women from the community and was overwhelmed with their response to art.
On 7th September 2024, I was invited to chat live on Stony Radio Morning Show with Caz Tricks and my friend and colleague artist from Westbury Arts Centre, Frances Fox, to talk about my Solo Exhibition, ‘Lines of Imagination’. Lines of Imagination was my solo exhibition at Westbury Arts Centre on the architecture and built environment of Milton Keynes and Beyond. It was a great opportunity to share with the listeners my journey of arts and how this exhibition came together, with some interesting conversations and good music.
To promote 'Kaleidoscope' , the Launch Art Exhibition of SAAC (South Asian Artists' Community), I joined Jessica Memon on ACR (Asian Community Radio) for her live show on 21st August 2024. Jessica Memon is the Founder and Radio Presenter of ACR which is the first Asian Community Radio, and a huge supporter of Arts in Milton Keynes. It was a great opportunity as a member of SAAC to share with the listeners about our art that was on display at the MK Central Library for the whole month of August and to talk about what our group is planning to promote art in our community and in MK.
I gave a visual overview of the truck art in Pakistan (commonly referred to as truck art but that includes buses, rickshaws and carts etc) and talked about some of the common themes and ideas found in truck art. The vast majority of Pakistan’s trucks, buses and rickshaws are a palette of bright colour from top to bottom with various pictures, from landscapes, portraits, and calligraphic poetry to religious verses. The visuals and decorations found on the trucks, display not just the aesthetic considerations, but they are an attempt to depict the political, cultural, social and racial views and beliefs of the individuals employed in the truck industry. It shows that truck art represents the identity of the individuals involved in the process and how they identify with the world.
I was part of the 'MEET THE ARTIST' event at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury, which was a supporting event of their Open Art Exhibition, which had my work on display. The exhibition opened on the 29th of April 2023 and was on till the 9th of July 2023. The artists at the event talked about their work and their inspiration. It was a great opportunity for the artists to meet the visitors of the exhibition as well as other artists from the area and talk about their inspirations and aspirations.
An informal poetry reading to celebrate World Poetry Day (21st March) was organized at Westbury Arts Centre, as part of MKLit Fest. Invited participants, who had a language other than English as their first language, were bilingual, or had strong connections with regions of the British Isles where another language or dialect is commonly used, shared their poetries from their chosen language / dialect. I had the opportunity to recite Allama Iqbal's poetry in Urdu which I learnt as a child in school. There will be an exhibition following this event as part of MKLit Fest at Milton Keynes Central Library in April 2023