Layla Mohamed British, b. 1983

I studied fine art at university and college, but it was in 2013 that I immersed myself in the London figurative drawing scene, obsessively drawing people from life with the goal of capturing and conveying the essence of my subject. In the last five years I’ve transformed my artistic offering, setting myself up as a brand that can sell artworks, entertainment and artistic experiences.

My practice currently consists of fast (on average, 15-minute) figurative drawings from life using ink and watercolour – I like to combine definite lines with the unpredictability of wet media. My figurative work explores contortions of the figure using shibari (Japanese rope bondage, also known as Kinbaku) as a medium for creating shapes and tension. I also tend to use my work to document the people and events that make up the London alternative/queer/fetish scene.

Aside from figurative drawing, I create elaborate monochrome line drawings that depict abstract forms and tell stories. I have created very personal compositions using this style, and have also screen-printed such designs onto clothing and as a limited-edition print run.

Instagram  Facebook  Twitter