About Zara

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Zara is a self-taught UK Artist. Originally from London, she currently works from her home studio in Belper, Derbyshire.

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Hello!

 

I use my art practice as a personal coping tool for mental health recovery and grounding, as well as a way to discover and reinforce a stronger sense of self and a connection to the places I have called home.

 

My work includes digital printmaking, graphite and charcoal drawings, and inky sketches. I sell the original artwork, art prints, and greeting cards in my online shop, and take commissions for custom drawings. Occasionally, I attend local events and exhibitions to display and sell my work, and you can follow me on social media or subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated.

 

Read more about my collections and current work below.​

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Digital Printmaking:

Zara’s Trees

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I launched my online shop, Zara Makes, initially to share my digital printmaking. My debut collection, "Zara's Trees," features digitally hand-drawn tree silhouettes inspired by photographs I took in Highgate and Hampstead Heath when I lived in London. I print the collection in-house as high-quality open prints and greeting cards.

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I started this series shortly before receiving my mental health diagnosis and learning that I have been living with a mood disorder my whole adult life. I realised that drawing these intricate, complex branch patterns was helping me channel my hypomanic energy, while sometimes providing a distraction during depressed phases. It is a deeply therapeutic practice, and one I will keep returning to as a way to self-manage my symptoms. So watch this space for more of Zara's Trees!​​

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Current Work:

Defining "Home"

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Growing up, I constantly shifted, changing schools each year, moving houses, losing and having to remake friends. As an adult, instability has persisted across homes, jobs, and relationships, plus living with a mood disorder has further fragmented my sense of self and belonging.

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My current work explores my idea of "home" as the natural things in my life that always help anchor and ground me wherever I am; like being in nature while walking my dog, observing wildlife in a garden, park or woodland, and nurturing houseplants at home.

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I am also enjoying drawing local scenes. This helps me feel connected with the places I visit and feel part of the community where I live. Since moving to Belper I have sketched a local festival, and I have been commissioned by locals to draw their pets.​​​​​​​​​