Sarmed Mirza is a British-Asian multidisciplinary artist and BAFTA Scotland New Talent-nominated filmmaker. Based in Scotland, his work traverses drawing, painting, writing, and storytelling, engaging themes of memory, conflict, identity, and the unseen.

Since beginning his studio practice in 2018, Sarmed’s journey has moved from classical portraiture to expressive abstraction and conceptual series work. A transformative encounter with a painting by Georges Braque at MoMA shifted his focus toward emotional resonance and poetic minimalism.

His work spans several key series:

• explores fractured systems, barbed logic, and the question of renewal after collapse.
  
• celebrates fleeting beauty, intimacy, and the jungle of emotional life.
  
• is a deeply personal tribute to the landscapes of myth, migration, and memory — using tiny 2x3 inch oil paintings to tell a vast story about loss, movies, childhood, and resilience.
  

Whether working in ink, oil, or metal print, Sarmed's art invites viewers to slow down, look again, and connect with the layered complexities of being human.

Awards

Winner - Monument Valley, Silent Witness (Untitled 1) - Art Req Ltd Award at 136th Annual Paisley Art Institute Exhibition 2025

Finalist - Portrait of K in Scottish Prize for Fine Art 2023

Finalist - Murree Man in Scottish Portrait Awards 2022

Shortlisted - Mogford Prize for Food & Drink Writing. Mission Pulao. 2017

Nominated for BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award for feature film 'An act of terror' 2009

Membership

• Paisley Art Institute (Est. 1876)
• Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) (Est. 1891)
• Glasgow Art Club (Est. 1867) Associate Member
• Visual Arts Scotland (VAS)
• Scottish Artist Union
• Co-founder and member of Common Ground Collective

Exhibitions

136th Annual Exhibition Paisley Art Institute, 2025

Art exhibition for the 99%.
The Tabernacle, London. 2025

Gallery of Modern Art
'Our Power' - Delivered 3 drawing and haiku workshops on Racial Microaggressions. Art by participants and video created by Sarmed installed in GoMA. Facilitated by Mental Health Foundation. 2024

Kelvingrove Museum
Short film installed and screened as part of 'Boxes of hope' exhibition facilitated by Mental Health Foundation. 2024

'Leaves in love' Charity Auction 2024 Century 21 Glasgow

Scottish Prize for Fine Art Exhibition 2023 (Glasgow Art Club)

Members Spring Exhibition 2023 (Scottish Arts Club)

Small works exhibition 2023  (Glasgow Art Club)

Murree Man in Scottish Portrait Awards travelling exhibition - Edinburgh Arts Club 2022, Duff House Banff 2022, Glasgow Arts Club 2023

Voice over for exhibits in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow 2022

Winter exhibition 2022 (Glasgow Art Club)

Art of the possible 29th Oct to 4th Dec 2021 (Glasgow Art Club)

Glasgow Art Club Members Winter Exhibition 2021 (Glasgow Art Club)

Reflections of a changing world 15th Sep to 22nd Oct 2021 (Glasgow Art Club)

Members & Friends Summer Exhibition 2021 (Glasgow Art Club)

Dubai Art Fair 2019

Dancing Brushes, Prince George, BC, Canada 2018-2019