Nael Hanna Iraqi, b. 1959

Nael Hanna was born in Nineveh, Northern Iraq in 1959. The artist grew up in a diverse mix of culture - Iraqui, Greek, and Syrian Christian Orthodox - and took to drawing wildlife and people from a young age. At just 19 years of age, Nael was drafted into the army to serve in the Iraq-Iran war shortly after entering college. During his service, Nael was granted a scholarship by the Ministry of Education in Baghdad to study art in Britain. In 1983, Hanna studied art and language courses in Southampton before his acceptance to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee.

During his fine art training, Nael fell in love with the East coast of Scotand, for its dramatic scenery and unpredictable weather. After graduating with Honours in 1989, Nael went to Florence on another fine art scholarship, awarded by The Royal Scottish Academy. Nael's deep love of nature and travel are the primary influences upon his painting today, as he lives and works from his countryside home in Angus, Scotland.

Painrting Style

Nael Hanna developed his expressive, near-abstract painting style over a course of years while travelling across the world. Each location and its unique offering of nature provided inspiration for new palettes, textures, and compositions. While there is a clear connection to the Scottish Colourists in Nael's work, the artist distinguishes himself as absolutely contemporary and adventurous through his innovative method of colour mixing, application including, for instance, mark-making with the blunt end of his paintbrush for added texture, and subject matter, from the crowded streets of Jerusalem to the solitary quiet of Scottish fishing harbours.