Meet the maker Tamsin Thomas

From the name of a holy city in India, famous for its many temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Its name is derived from Sanskrit काशि (kashi) "shining".

Shape, colour and pattern are incredibly inspiring things for me. All of these are found (in vast abundance) in Indian culture, which I am heavily influenced by. I love the visual expression found in everything, from Bollywood movie posters, hand painted signs and traditional crafts right through to Mehndi henna designs. I find them all visually pleasing, colourful and emotive. I pull small elements from these areas, combine them, along with western influences, to make something different using a mixture of media and techniques. Highlighting the beauty and importance of each element within a single work.

Another huge element for me is the dedication of creation. Nothing here is done because it's quick or easy. There's an obsessive need to create perfection, imperfections created through the process can add to that perfection.

The elements I combine, individually, have their own separate cultural and personal meanings, by combining them, I draw on that meaning, making it my own and allowing others to read, view and interpret.

There's intention behind everything I do. The society we live in is a multi-cultural one, with boundaries merging, people mixing, knowledge and understanding being shared.