The Artist

Zerrin was born in Southeast Turkey, a naturally inquisitive child with a mind that wandered through many worlds—writing, music, science, and art. Though she never received formal training in painting, she learned the intricate craft of miniature art from her father at a young age. Her storytelling talent shone early, winning first prize three times in national children’s magazine competitions.

Despite her artistic inclinations, she pursued medicine, specialising in psychiatry. Yet, creativity remained a defining force in her life, running parallel to her scientific pursuits. She also found expression through music, becoming a singer with the renowned Turkish group Yeni Türkü, where her voice became part of a cultural movement that resonated with many.

However, political unrest and military coups in Turkey forced her to leave her homeland. Unable to continue her work there, she emigrated to the UK on a scholarship, rebuilding her life while continuing her career as a psychiatrist. She was one of the pioneers of research on the effects of cannabis on the brain. Art remained her refuge—whenever she could, she immersed herself in creative work, experimenting with various mediums.

In 2022, she retired from medicine to fully embrace her identity as an artist. Always drawn to surrealism, she initially worked with airbrush techniques before transitioning to oils and digital painting. Her works are more than just visual pieces; they tell stories, exploring the stark contrast between humanity’s capacity for beauty and its tendency toward destruction. Deeply motivated by political, environmental, and women’s issues, she strives to create art that makes people pause, reflect, and sometimes feel discomfort.

Her style is both realistic and naïve, celebrating colour and light with a distinctive voice. While many of her paintings are highly detailed, every so often, she frees herself through spontaneous, abstract works—letting her hand, rather than her mind, take the lead. Whether meticulously crafted or instinctively expressed, each piece carries the essence of her lifelong passion: the power of art to provoke thought, stir emotion, and inspire change.