Basma Ashworth
My unusual, rather exotic and varied background has greatly influenced my work.
Born in a remote area in the mountains of Kurdistan, I spent my childhood living in a community of ancient Assyrians.
I came to study chemical engineering in the UK at the University of Manchester in science and technology, with which I got my PhD in biochemical engineering. After gaining my doctorate I spent many years travelling extensively around the Globe, from South America to Australia and anywhere in between.
I followed this with a few years working for a nature conservancy council as a scientific officer looking after everything to do with nature.
In 1997 I decided I wanted to change carear and do something practical. Using some bright colour fabric which I bought and didn’t know how to make anything with it.
I enrolled in a course for two years in a local college, that was followed by doing a foundation course in art then Falmouth university art degree and graduated in 2005 in fine art.
Since then I am a full time professional artist working in Cornwall then Spain.
As you can gather from the above my work encompasses all the these element.
A little about my art work
I usually work on very large canvases and use my small canvases/ board as a sketch book.
Each painting begins with a mark on the canvas, inspired by a fleeting glimpse of a distant memory. From there the painting evolves and takes control. I follow the path that the paint is revealing until the painting is completed. There may be thirty to forty layers of paint as the picture takes its form, and the painting evolves to reveal a vibrant blend of colours forming free flowing, amorphous and organic shapes. The artwork emerges from the interaction of marks that I make on the surface with the colours, lines and texture.
When people see the paintings, they find their own meaning and readings and will be drawn to them for their own personal reasons.
Each of my paintings is unique and comes from within. Each represents its own particular passage of discovery and emotion connecting to my ancient people and heritage. They reflect the situation of being physically in one place and in one culture with the memory of another.
I apply a similar process to my textiles, by using all natural fibres, especially silk and fine Marino wool. I use various felting processes to create my art. My textiles are colourful reflecting the extravagant garments and gold the Assyrian women wear.
A high percentage of my work, both paintings and textiles are commissioned by architects and designers. Large collections are also used by luxury and eco hotels like Scarlet Hotel, among others as well as public spaces.
My aim is to give hope, brightness and put a smile on people’s faces when they encounter one of my pieces of art work.
