Transitioning from a background in marine biology to a flourishing career as an artist, Elizabeth Davis has embarked on a creative journey that harmonises her love for art with a deep commitment to environmental sustainability.
Her artistic odyssey is a tale of self-discovery, nurtured by an incredible art teacher during her school years. However, her academic pursuits initially led her into marine biology and the corporate world before guiding her back to art. She resided in the Sultanate of Oman for over 30 years and commenced her artistic voyage, primarily working with acrylics.
Painting on canvas is a delight, but recycling and up-cycling are more than a creative satisfaction. It is also a commitment to the environment.
As an artist, Elizabeth Davis wants to be independent of any particular medium of painting or style.
A self-taught artist, she fell in love with painting as a school student thanks to an amazing art teacher.
She has ventured into impressionism and semi-abstract form. With a certificate in ‘Creative Imagination’ from the National Museum of Oman and in Drawing from the Art Academy in London, she has been exploring, experimenting and evolving in her journey of art.
Looking closely at her artwork beyond the canvas, one realises her creativity is also connected to the concept of recycling, reusing and up-cycling the topic of cycling, which is very close to her heart.
Step into her art studio, and one will know why she likes to spend so much time there. In her art studio, water bottles have been converted into beautiful lampshades. It seems to her that imagination could be the only limitation anyone can have regarding recycling.
“If people would recycle and upcycle, there would be less junk and more beautiful art out there,” noted Elizabeth.
Her work reflects her love for Oman and the impression the country has left on her.
“It is an amazing country with warm people, awe-inspiring landscape along with forts, Falaj and frankincense,” she said.
Born in Kerala, India, she majored in Marine Biology, worked as a banker and went on to coordinate training programs for professionals in accounting. Today, she is a full-time artist.
Elizabeth has participated in various exhibitions in Oman, India, UAE and the US. She has had solo exhibitions in Cochin and Jahangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, India, as well as in Juneau, Alaska. Her work is also part of private collections.
Elizabeth was a winner of the Masterpiece Oman exhibition conducted by the Anglo-Homani Society, London, in 2021.
Meanwhile, taking her granddaughter to Muttrah Sea Front inspired an imaginative hand-crafted sketchbook created by Elizabeth and is now part of a special collection in the Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai. UAE. So is the commissioned book, ‘Kiki Goes to Dubai Creek.’
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
