Step inside Sheikh Rashid’s art studio and you’ll find a scene typical of any artist at work: a mix of brightly coloured oils and acrylics lie on a palette amidst an array of various sized paintbrushes while nearby is an easel with a fresh layer of paint. Art books, catalogues and sketching paper surround the scene in a warm fashion; this is where artistic creation is born. And while a common scene of artistic frenzy can be expected on any studio visit, what differs here is the sheer diversity of Sheikh Rashid’s work as well as the sense of calmness that permeates the space. From landscapes to pure abstraction and realistic portrayals of historical and present day Bahrain-Sheikh Rashid’s plethora of work touches upon a multifaceted use of different media to reveal at once the philosophic and emotional inherent in a work of art.
As in Sheikh Rashid’s art and various artistic initiatives, Royal Bridges promotes community development through creativity. Here artistic ability and humanity go hand-in-hand in the same humble and visionary way in which Sheikh Rashid lives his life and his art.

Sheikh Rashid in his art studio in Bahrain. On his easel is Together. 2016. Oil on canvas. 100 x 100cm.