About
Following the success of our first Miniature Painting Atelier in 2025, we are pleased to announce that our next iteration of this immersive course will feature the Persian Miniature Painting tradition. This July, we welcome a group of expert tutors with diverse areas of expertise to our London studios for an intensive, multi-faceted engagement with this inspiring tradition. This week is a unique opportunity to engage with the practise and immerse oneself in this beautiful craft at the School of Traditional Arts.
Individual sessions will offer focused investigations of the methods and techniques of the discipline, from fine brush work and paper preparation to the natural and architectural elements depicted on a page. During the week, participants will engage with both practical and contextual aspects of the Persian miniature. Participants will develop technical skills for depicting nature and figures, textile rendering, and pigment making. They will also come away with a greater understanding of page composition and proportion.
In addition to daily sessions on specific topics, the week includes evening sessions, contextual lectures, and behind-the-scenes access to a prominent institute one of London premier collection of Persian miniature painting.
By the end of this inspiring week, participants will have an appreciation of the importance of poetry and storytelling in creating the pages and gain a multitude of skills. The week’s engagement will set up avenues of exploration which will equip students of miniature painting for months to come. We welcome both experienced painters as well as curious beginners who wish to dip their toes into this beautiful world.
Key Information
Who is this masterclass for?
All levels of ability and experience are welcome. You must be aged 18 or over to participate in our programmes.
What dates/times do I attend?
Monday – Friday, 13 – 17 July 2026, 10:00 – 17:00, with optional evening sessions.
Location
This event will take place at our studios at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG.
Materials
Students should all bring:
- Notebook and pen/pencil for notetaking
- A palette with wells
- Brushes, sizes to be specified
FAQs
Do you offer concessions?
Yes, we offer concessions for Seniors/60+, full-time students and people who are unemployed/in receipt of benefits.
Concessions cannot be applied in retrospect. To receive a concession, please apply via our online form. We will then send you a discount code to use when booking your space.
Terms & Conditions
The School reserves the right to discontinue or suspend a Course up to fourteen (14) calendar days before the advertised start date of the Course. This course requires a minimum number of enrollments to run.
The School may take and use images of you and/or your work for course advertisement and social media purposes.
Our normal terms and conditions apply.
Tutor Biography
Farkhondeh Ahmadzadeh
Farkhondeh Ahmadzadeh is an Iranian artist based in London. Her work explores the disciplines of Persian poetry manuscripts, sacred geometry and Persian miniatures. She has worked both as an academic and an artist in Iran, America and Europe. For the last 20 years, Farkhondeh has regularly spent time living and studying under calligraphy masters in Iran. She graduated with distinction from The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts’ MA programme in 2011 and was awarded the Jerwood prize for Islamic traditional art. She now works at the School as the MA Deputy Director of the Studies.
Fatima Zahra Hassan
Fatima Zahra Hassan is a visual artist, miniature painter, educator, and researcher whose work revolves around the rich artistic traditions of the Islamic world and South Asia. She studied at the National College of Arts in Lahore before continuing her education at the Royal College of Art in London, where she completed her MA with distinction.
Fatima Zahra is regarded as a pioneer in introducing and promoting the practice of Indian, Mughal, and Persian miniature painting in the United Kingdom. Her work reflects a deep engagement with the practical and intellectual traditions of Islamic art, with a particular focus on the art of the book from South Asia and Iran.
Vaishali Prazmari
Vaishali Prazmari is a multidisciplinary artist whose work incorporates elements from various cultures including the Indo-Persian miniatures and Chinese painting of her heritages. Vaishali holds degrees from both the Slade School of Fine Art and the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts and holds an MA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies (UCL) specializing in floating islands. She studied Persian and Indian manuscript painting under various masters and during her MA at PSTA and Chinese painting under a master in Hong Kong. Vaishali has been painting ever since she could get her chubby hands on a brush. Her work has been acquired in collections globally and she has exhibited nationally and internationally for nearly 20 years. She has been bringing traditional miniature painting to life for a wider audience as an educator for 10 years. Having been immersed in these ancient painting traditions as well as contemporary art she is now working towards a syncretic PhD at the Slade, an epic project that is a contemporary visual interpretation of the 1001 Arabian Nights. Born in London, she grew up on an island in Hong Kong and currently lives and works in London.
Sana Sanjrani
Sana Sanjrani is an artist specialising in Persian miniature painting. She graduated from the King’s School of Traditional Arts, where she received the Kairos award for geometry. Her work explores themes related to the spiritual quest, drawing from Islamic narratives and mystical poetry.
Halleh Mortazavi
Halleh Mortazavi is an artist specialising in traditional Persian art. Born in Iran, she grew up in a culture deeply rooted in visual and poetic traditions. She initially pursued a career in engineering, earning a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester, while continuing to pursue painting as a hobby and studying with masters such as Aydin Aghdashloo and Leila Pourkhani. She later completed an MA at The King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London, where she focused on Persian book art and illumination and received the Kairos Hand-Drawn Geometry Award. Her work explores geometric patterns and traditional motifs using natural pigments, particularly lapis, balancing precision, colour, and ornament while honouring classical heritage. She also practices other styles of Persian book art, including Persian painting, single-figure, bird-and-flower, and Siah Qalam.
