Yasmin Hayat born in 1990, is a British-Syrian artist who studied painting at Central Saint Martin’s (University of Arts London) before specialising in the arts of the SWANA region at the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. After graduating with distinction in geometry and miniature painting, Yasmin developed a language of painting which is derived from an old Arabic style and incorporates contemporary Western and Indo-Persian techniques. Her work is a considered blend of Eastern and Western methodology which she uses to explore themes of migration, heritage, and memory. In 2018, Yasmin was awarded the Kairos prize by His Royal Highness, King Charles and Professor Keith Critchlow for her paintings which preserve and celebrate traditional art practices and techniques.

Yasmin experiments with pigments which she hand makes from minerals, plants and earths. These tactile and luminous colours, which are consciously selected due to their relation to the painted subject, result in a dimensional finish which transforms, moves and reflects, just like the stories depicted. Yasmin sources the raw materials from around the world and meticulously refines and processes these ingredients to craft an individualised palette, which is completely unique to each painting.

Yasmin Hayat has led workshops and masterclasses at prestigious institutions worldwide including the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Watts Gallery, Amateo (The European Network for Cultural Activities), The British Arts Council, the National Trust, The Princes Foundation and at the Al Burda Festival in Abu Dhabi.