Shaya Latheef
Hi! I’m Shaya, a full-time medical doctor and self-taught artist from the Maldives, currently based in Newcastle, Australia. Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up surrounded by the ocean, its shifting moods, quiet depths, and vivid colors have always inspired me, and often flow into my work.
I love working with oil, acrylic, and pour paints, exploring everything from seascapes and textures to light, movement, and emotion. I started Shayas.Art in 2018 with small acrylic paintings on shells, gradually experimenting with pour painting while balancing my medical studies. Though there were a few quiet years creatively, I’ve recently returned to painting more regularly, especially after completing my medical internship.
For me, art offers a calming contrast to the fast pace and precision of medicine. It’s a space to reconnect with nature, memory, and imagination. Whether I’m capturing the stillness of a horizon or letting paint flow freely across a canvas, each piece is made with curiosity, care, and a sense of wonder.
Thank you for visiting. I’m so glad you’re here. I hope something in my work speaks to you.