Some collaborations come into your inbox and immediately make you stop for a second. This was definitely one of those. I was invited by MCA / Universal Music Group Nashville to be part of a special artist collaboration celebrating Little Big Town’s 12th studio album, It’s A Dying Art. The idea behind the project felt very close to me. Twelve artists were invited to create an original artwork, each inspired by a different song from the album. The whole project celebrates human-made art, the imperfections, emotions, marks and stories that can only come from actually creating something with your hands. And of course, that is pretty much everything I love about painting. The lyric that started the painting When I first listened to my song, there was one line that stayed with me: “It only takes a coat of paint to remember who we are.” I knew almost immediately that I wanted to build the artwork around that idea. A coat of paint can cover something, change it or give it a completely new life. But what was there before hasn't really disappeared. It's still underneath. I started thinking about how similar we are as people. We go through different versions of ourselves. Relationships change us. Love changes us. Difficult times leave marks. We heal, grow and add new layers, but the older parts of us are still there somewhere. That became the starting point for the painting. Building the piece layer by layer I created the original as a 90 × 75 cm mixed-media painting, using two figures and layers of vibrant colour and texture. I didn't want it to feel too perfect or polished. I wanted you to be able to see the process in the finished piece, the layers underneath, the changes, the texture and the marks made by hand. That's something I love about mixed media. I can build something up, cover it, scrape into it and then build it again. Sometimes the part I nearly covered completely becomes my favourite part of the painting. For this piece, those layers became part of the story. Love leaves layers. Memories leave layers. Life leaves layers. And sometimes we need another coat of paint to see things differently again. Why It’s A Dying Art connected with me The title It’s A Dying Art made me think a lot about what it means to make something by hand now. We live in such a fast world. Everything can be edited, filtered and made perfect in seconds. Painting is the opposite for me. It's messy. It takes time. Sometimes I change my mind halfway through. Sometimes something goes completely wrong and leads me somewhere better. You can see where my palette knife has touched the canvas. You can see the thickness of the paint and the decisions I made along the way. Those imperfections are part of the artwork. And I think that's why this collaboration felt so natural to me. It wasn't asking artists to make something perfect. It was celebrating the human part of creating. From a song to a painting One of my favourite moments was simply putting my headphones on in the studio, listening to the song again and letting the painting begin from there. No complicated plan. Just the music, a blank canvas and that one lyric sitting in my head. From there came the figures, the colours, the texture and all those layers. It's quite special knowing that a song created by one group of people in Nashville travelled all the way to my studio in the UK and became something completely different through my hands. Music became paint. And now the painting becomes another little part of the story of It’s A Dying Art. I'm incredibly grateful to Little Big Town and MCA / Universal Music Group Nashville for inviting me to be one of the artists involved in this project. This is definitely one I'll remember. 🤍 — Chaya

A Creative Journey with Naeem Mahmood's Vision In 2023, I had the extraordinary opportunity to collaborate on a unique art project for the movie Gods of their Own Religion, directed by the visionary Naeem Mahmood. This film, which explores profound themes of identity, belief, and personal struggle, inspired me to create a series of portrait artworks that would encapsulate its essence and resonate with the audience. The Creative Process When Naeem Mahmood approached me with this collaboration, I was immediately drawn to the project's depth and complexity. The film's narrative required artworks that could convey the emotional and philosophical underpinnings of its characters. My challenge was to translate these rich, cinematic themes into visual art that would complement the film’s storytelling.   Research and Inspiration Before diving into the creative process, I immersed myself in the script and character backstories. Naeem shared his vision and thematic goals, which guided my artistic direction. I also drew inspiration from classic religious iconography, abstract expressionism, and contemporary portraiture, aiming to blend these elements into a cohesive and compelling series. Sketching and Conceptualization I began with detailed sketches, experimenting with various styles and compositions. Each portrait needed to reflect the internal journey of the character it represented. This phase involved numerous iterations, discussions with Naeem, and refinements to ensure the artwork would resonate with the film's tone and atmosphere.   Bringing the Portraits to Life Once the conceptual sketches were approved, I moved on to the painting phase. I used a mix of traditional and digital techniques, layering textures and colors to create depth and intensity. Each stroke was carefully considered to capture the emotional nuance and complexity of the characters. The process was both challenging and rewarding, pushing me to explore new artistic territories. The Exhibition in Soho, London The culmination of this collaboration was an exclusive exhibition held in the heart of Soho, London. This vibrant and culturally rich area provided the perfect backdrop for showcasing the portraits. The event was attended by film enthusiasts, art lovers, and industry professionals, all eager to see the intersection of cinema and visual art.     Reception and Reflections The exhibition received an overwhelmingly positive response. Attendees appreciated the intricate details and emotional depth of the portraits, and many expressed how the artworks enhanced their understanding and appreciation of the film. Naeem Mahmood and I shared insights about our collaboration during a Q&A session, highlighting the synergy between visual art and cinema.   Looking Forward This collaboration with Gods of their Own Religion has been one of the most enriching experiences of my artistic career. It allowed me to delve into the intersection of film and fine art, exploring new dimensions of creativity and storytelling. I am grateful to Naeem Mahmood for his trust and vision, and to everyone who supported this project.   Final Thoughts Art and film are powerful mediums that, when combined, can create profound and lasting impacts. My collaboration for Gods of their Own Religion is a testament to this potential. I look forward to future projects that challenge and inspire me in similar ways, continuing to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming projects and exhibitions!   Visit the Exhibition If you missed the exhibition, you can still view the portraits and learn more about the project on my website. Feel free to reach out for any collaboration inquiries or to share your thoughts about the artwork.   For more information on the film Gods of their Own Religion, visit Director Naeem Mahmood's official website and follow the latest updates on social media.

Power in the Process: Bringing Teela to Life for Sony Pictures UK's Masters of the Universe Some collaborations come along once in a career. This one arrived wrapped in cosmic energy, forged in impasto, and celebrated under the lights of Leicester Square.  I'm thrilled to share my official character portrait collaboration with Sony Pictures UK, created in celebration of the major theatrical release of Masters of the Universe — and to take you behind the scenes of the piece, the process, and the premiere. The Brief: Capturing Eternia's Fiercest Warrior When Sony Pictures UK came calling, the challenge was clear: translate the raw, otherworldly power of Eternia into fine art, centred on one of the film's most iconic figures — Teela. Rather than a straightforward likeness, I wanted something that felt alive — a portrait that carried the same ferocity, movement, and cosmic scale as the film itself. It needed to hold its own on a poster wall and in a gallery in equal measure. The Process: Impasto, Palette Knives, and "Power in the Process" True to my signature style, I built the portrait using heavy-texture impasto work, layering paint thickly and working it with bold, deliberate palette knife strokes. The result is a surface that feels sculpted as much as painted — every ridge and edge catching the light differently depending on where you stand. This physicality is central to my philosophy: Power in the Process. The belief that the energy of creation — the pressure of the blade, the buildup of paint, the decisions made in real time — should be visible in the final work, not smoothed away. For a warrior like Teela, that philosophy felt like the only honest way in. Strength isn't tidy. Neither is the paint. The palette leans bold and saturated, echoing the fierce, cosmic atmosphere of Eternia itself, while the texture does the work of conveying Teela's power, resilience, and readiness for battle. The Premiere: Leicester Square The campaign culminated on the red carpet at the UK Premiere of Masters of the Universe, held at one of the world's most iconic cinema locations, Leicester Square in London. I attended as part of the official campaign, marking the piece's debut alongside the film it was created to honour. It was a full-circle moment: a portrait I built stroke by stroke in the studio, unveiled at the heart of London's film world. Why It Matters Official studio collaborations like this one are rare precisely because they ask for so much: a piece that respects the source material, stands as fine art in its own right, and can carry a major theatrical campaign on its shoulders. Teela does all three — she's textured, she's fierce, and she's unmistakably part of the Eternia she comes from. I'm proud to have brought this piece into the world, and even prouder of what it represents about where my work is headed next. Want to see more from this collaboration and future studio projects? Stay tuned to the shop and sign up to my newsletter for first access to new releases.