Samira Mian
Get in touch for commissions
Geometer, Artist & Educator
Sharing my passion for Islamic Geometric Patterns:
This Month's Islamic Geometric Pattern:
Learn online monthly by sunscribing to my PATREON
Buy Tutorial Packs for patterns from the Pattern Archive of 2021 and 2022
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April 2025
Welcome to my website, a hub of all things Islamic Geometry!
See what I've been up to in my NEWS section or join me in-person or online:
Regular monthly In-person workshops in the UK
This month, my monthly workshops are back! So join me at Harrow Arts Centre, Cass Art Kingston , OPEN Ealing & OPEN Southall from April. All of my venues host 3 hour drawing & painting workshops. The same pattern being taught at each venue each month. I love my workshops, teaching in-person is something I benefit from hugely and enjoy so very much with the lovely mix of beginners and regulars. It's the complete teaching/learning feedback loop... the oxygen I run on.
Affordable & free ONLINE learning
I teach LIVE online monthly via my Patreon (basically a monthly subscription to me!) it's a beautiful international online community, one of the best aspects of my work! You can see how it works and what I've previously taught here and you can join for as little as US $5 a month: Learn to draw a new pattern each month, attend 2 Zooms + their recording + a step by step PDF guide. If you enroll on an annual membership you get 20% off!
IGP101 continues month to month - for all Patreon pals free and paid!
A free 60min monthly Zoom for all Patreon members - free and paid - to help you get started and continue your journey into this wonderful world of patterns. As a Free Patreon Member, you get to join the IGP101 Zoom live and have early access to the recording before it published on my YouTube channel for all to enjoy. Each of these IGP101 zooms will be a stand-alone session, a mix of proper practical help and guidance, structured enough for you to know what to expect each session but also with enough flexibility to allow it to grow and evolve as you and I continue through the year. All wrapped up in a relaxed, friendly and fun setting.
I've been teaching monthly on Patreon since 2021, and this month is my 50th! If you want to learn previous months, you can buy the Tutorial packs from the 2021 & 2022 Patreon Pattern Archive. Patterns from 2023 and 2024 coming soon!
If you want to try out something FREE, get started here to access the many resources to keep you dabbling in this intriguing world of Islamic Geometric Patterns wherever you are in the world, whatever your budget. I offer many free resources & links: 50 + Tutorials on YouTube, with a series on Five & Tenfold Tutorial series and Twelvefold Rosette Tutorial Series, as well as resources suitable for kids & beginners, book reviews, equipment & materials recommendations and links to many free resources online from other talented geometers & artists too.
I also created two affordable & practical recorded online courses on Udemy, you can view video demonstrations along with accessing step by step PDFs to enable you to draw, trace, tile, transfer and paint Islamic Geometric Patterns.
My good friend Dr Esra Alhamal and I have taught together online, these are now available as recorded courses with PDFs: Virtual tour of Uzbekistan and our previous course Elements of Mamluk Manuscripts
BESPOKE private, small group, school, university or workplace in-person and online workshops, talks & tuition
This is the broadest of categories and the types of events I've been delivering are truly diverse, from corporate & co-living spaces to schools and universities and friendship groups and family occasions - both in person & online.
Such a fun way to bring creativity into so many different worlds. So if it's something you'd like to do for adults or children please get in touch. You can see some of what I've done previously here. I also offer live video tuition via Zoom as well as in person workshops in my studio for those in and around London as well as internationally. For either, we can schedule sessions and cover topics, techniques and patterns from the world of Islamic Geometric Patterns & Design and beyond - bespoke to your needs.
All the best from,
Samira
London, England, UK
Beginners welcome, let me be your guide!
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If you've ever wanted to explore the beauty of Islamic geometric patterns but felt unsure where to begin, let me be your guide!
IGP 101: Getting Started with Islamic Geometric Patterns
My aim is to make you feel welcome and equipped—both mentally and practically—to navigate the fascinating world of geometric patterns without feeling overwhelmed by its vastness. With solid foundations, you can dabble confidently and enjoy the creative journey.
Each month, I host a free 60-minute Zoom session. As a Patreon member, you’ll have access to join these live sessions and enjoy early access to the recordings before they’re shared publicly on my YouTube channel.
Every IGP 101 session is designed to stand alone, offering practical guidance and structured content to help you learn and grow. At the same time, the sessions remain flexible, evolving with you as we progress through the year. All of this takes place in a relaxed, friendly, and fun environment.
Let’s dive into the world of patterns together—one step at a time!
News
Just returned from the opening of the School of Calligraphy and Ornamentation's inaugural exhibition:
Inspired From Manuscripts
Al Taif Mall, Fujairah, UAE
10 Sep till 21 Oct 2024
@socofujairah.ae
Do check it out, it's only an hour or so from Dubai and there are such stunning works by so many wonderful artists, a feast of Calligraphy, Miniature and Ornamentation.
And of course, Geometry, which is where I was exhibiting along with the brilliant and talented @rajen.astho @mostafa.sdky @sara.choudry and @@ambigraph
My Geometry in contemporary watercolour pieces have symmetry within symmetry in their display:
8 - 12 - 12&8 -12 - 8
They are a mix of old and new pieces but ones I really love. So happy to see them framed and exhibited and I would be even happier to see them go to new homes inshaAllah!
Mighty gratitude to Dr Esra Alhamal @islamicillumination General Director of SOCO and her superb team.
Team SOCO, you are amazing!!
Your organisation, warmth, hard work, dilligence & resilience in pulling off this huge undertaking in such a short time was brilliant! I'm so proud of you all.
I'm especially and immensely proud of my pal Esra. You work so hard, relentlessly. And I love how you go out of your way to elevate and celebrate artists & creatives, you rise up and take so many with you!!
Finally Gratitude to the patron of the School, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.
To invest in elevating, preserving and celebrating these artforms and the people who practise it is so valuable for us as muslims now and in the future.
(SEPTEMBER 2024)
I'm teaching at Workshop Week this June. If like me, you somehow missed Workshop Week last year, you’re NOT gonna wanna miss it this year! It is a giant online art event happening 3-7 June and I'm so excited to be part of it this year! You can find everything you need here but here’s the need-to-know:
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40+ art workshops
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In lettering, painting, journaling, drawing, and sooo much more
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5 days– a new workshop airing every hour!
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Your favorite artists, all in one place
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IT’S FREE!
(JUNE 2024)
So very honoured to have my artwork on the score of the @orchestralqawwaliproject at the @royalalberthall on Monday. Alhumdolillah
Thank you to @rushilmusic for letting this fan get involved and along with the amazing team at the Royal Albert Hall who made *me* feel like such a star! In my mind (and outloud), i was like no no no, I'm the fan! It blows my mind that the conductor, the musicians, singers and staff all had their hands on it....i hope they liked it too!!
(MAY 2024)
Samira Mian x Porsche ME
My first brand Collaboration! Officially, I'm the Artist for the 2024 Porsche Ramadan campaign.
I produced a range of art that will be used for Ramadan and Eid by Porsche across the Middle East in their social media, showrooms, advertising, and billboard too!
Here are a few shots from the 100s of videos and photos we took at the very cool @drvn.ae by Porsche on Bluewaters Island in Dubai. Looking at each piece, I of course knew what I had done, but woah what the team went on to do with the original art work... the sheer number and quality... superb! There have been a lot of folk involved in this and all without exception, friendly, caring, talented, professional and fun. I have felt so valued!
I tell you teamwork does make the dream work. I'm eternally grateful that they chose my dream to come true... a dream way beyond my imagination.
Alhumdolillah always!
(MAR 2024)
My artwork is now installed up on a public building - my local library, Northolt Library!
Mighty thank yous to Molly and @_newpractice and Mariam and @ealingcouncil for more than a year of working behind the scenes culminating in it finally going up in September courtesy of @Omnicolour. It really is a dream come true for me.
Also so chuffed for my fellow artists and friends @lazfarart @pridetca and Jane who have been part of this Visions for Northolt Project, can't wait to do an art stops tour of Northolt and so much more... here's to this being the start of something that will beautify our surrounding and connect and benefit our community!
(SEP 2023)
I was chuffed to be a voice on 'Perspectives on the Arab Hall' exploring six individual viewpoints from a diverse pool of voices with connections to the iconic space - the Arab Hall in Leighton House:
@samira.mian – geometer, artist and educator
Souad Mohamad – community group leader, Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
@lexymorvaridi – artist, musician and curator
Dr Melanie Gibson – historian and editor of Gingko Art Series
@nagihanseymour – ceramic and tezhip artist and educator
Dr Usama Hasan – Imam
(JUN 2023)
Excited to be part of another Bayt Al Fann endeavour, taking part in an online discussion about Islamic Pattern and Sacred Geometry. Join us!
(Jun 2023)
An early morning chat with William Crawley and poet Taher Adel
on BBC Radio 4's Sunday programme.
I was a bit bleary eyed, sleepy and still congested from my cold.. so not my most coherent interview, but still worthy of a lil listen. Was good to squeeze in what we were there to talk about the digital festival by www.baytalfann.com
Again was super cool hearing my surname, (silent N on Mian) being pronounced correctly on BBC Radio 4 on the Sunday programme... little things make a big difference!
(NOV 2022)
Excited to be part of The Bayt Al Fann Islamic Art & Culture Digital Festival, 28 & 29 November, a virtual global gathering, with performances, online exhibitions and conversations! Join us!
(Nov 2022)
Six Beginners' online classes with Imran Khan Cancer Appeal. Starts Saturday 1st October, 11 to 12pm (UK), continues on 8, 15 and 29 October and 5 and 12 November.
A step by step PDF and zoom recording will be provided for participants.
The classes are £10 each or £50 for all 6 classes. Please do sign up as we would love to help raise lots of funds for the great work they do at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in treating cancer patients in Pakistan: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/islamic-art-class-with-samira-mian-six-online-classes-tickets-228967396647
Please do share with friends and family!
(OCT 2022)
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Is there an Islamic arts revival? N.A. Mansour tries to muddle that & the definition of Islamic art in this piece.
(APR 2022)
My recollection of recording this conversation - Esra powering on through with kindness & humour whilst I was sniffly, moody and hungry… all before 9am! Luckily, this the first episode of Season 4 came out well.... good job Esra and @artilluminatedpod!
In this episode we chat about how we met, our lives in art, self taught vs self study, pricing artwork and of course lots of jokes and the compulsory mention of food!
Listen on www.islamicillumination.com/podcast or Spotify or Apple
(FEB 2022)
I recorded an interview with Gillian Turnham for her Beauty, Goodness, Truth podcast for her broadcast residency with the Community Radio Fund of Canada and Trent Radio in Peterborough Ontario Canada.
Her aim was to produce a 6-part radio series and podcast on Islamic Art in today's world.
In the series she speaks to
@adamwilliamsonart, @ambigraph ,
@emanhijazi , @barchilonceramics , and @samira.mian about the nature and context of Islamic art in the world today, and about the various questions pertinent to the subject today.
FEB 2022)
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A new platform for all interested in the Islamic Arts to learn, share and connect. Launched with a wesbite full of content! Including an interview with me
(NOVEMBER 2021)
It was lovely to be Interview for Turkey's "Digital" Culture and Art Newspaper Litros Art by Ismail Kaplan:
Link to the article in Turkish & English
(JUNE 2021)
Looking forward to attending & speaking at the annual ATM Conference, postponed from last year and now virtual. 90 sessions to join or watch later if it clashes with another Choice. It's an amazing opportunity for international colleagues to gain access to the full 3 days from just £50 ( students) or £100 (non members). See the programme and full details of plenaries, sessions & speakers via atm.org.uk/2021-Conference
or tapping/clicking the image.
(APR 2021)
Maths & Art, a fascinating combination I discussed with Journalist Vishva Samani when she visited my studio in March. Her piece got an outing on BBC Asian Network social media on Facebook & Instagram. I was also invited on for a short discussion on the Big Debate on BBC Asian Network.
The cherry on the cake was hearing Edward Stourton pronounce my name correctly as he introduced the piece on BBC Radio 4 on the Sunday programme - listen to it below:
(MAR 2021)
A recent interview with art 'n fann
I really enjoyed chattering away with Allayth, I think he asked me some great questions and well I do like to talk!
(MAR 2021)
A recent short interview with www.scriptsnscribes.com
Notice in the interview how I get slightly ratty when these patterns are some how not included in mathematics!
(FEB 2021)
I finally made it on to Esra Al Hamal's Podcast, Art Illuminated Podcast, her second season of an art and craft dedicated show about contemporary arts and crafts inspired by traditional practice #ArtIlluminatedPod.We had such a laugh chatting away,except near the end when I was so hungry and Esra asked me hard questions!
Listen on www.islamicillumination.com/podcast or Spotify or Apple
(SEPT 2020)
Having not written anything long form in 20 years, writing for a special edition of the Journal of the Assosciation of Teachers of Mathematics was an epic task, so I diligently dove in full concentration to write a way too long article! Read Part 1of A former mathematics teacher's insight into Islamic Geometric Patterns
(SEPT 2020)
I was honoured to have my artwork on the cover of Chalkdust magazine,the first time and hopefully not he last time! I also contributed a step by step guide to drawing the front cover pattern: 21 simple steps to draw your own Islamic pattern!.
Emily May wrote an excellent article: to accompmay the cover art work: Islamic Geomertry Explaining the mathematics of tiling, and the cover of Issue 10
(DECEMBER 2019)
Early on in Artist/Educator endeavours, I had a visit to OPEN Ealing from Buzzfeed. Looking back I realise it was pretty cool to have a reporter and photographer visit me! I especially loved having professional photos sorted so early on! Thanks to Laura Gallant. Here's what Aisha Gani wrote: People Are Obsessed With Islamic Art And The Patterns Are Flawless
(SEPT 2016)