Artist and Sculptor
Born in Kenya to an Indian family who migrated to the UK in her childhood, Illa takes inspiration from all over the world, bringing together her influences from the tapestry of cultures. Brought through her art is her expressive and powerful vision of a motion based in time.
Pushing cultural boundaries from a society that’s based on values, where art is not considered as a worthwhile profession, to experimenting and developing into a self taught artist. She works with various mediums, from watercolours, oils, acrylics, to sculpting in clay and casting her own statues with the help of her loving family.
Illa’s found her vocation in life at the age of 15. Having attained A level in Art, design and sculptures at 16, she did not have the opportunity to pursue her chosen career. Her pursue to art never left her, she was always drawing and adapting her own style and this became her hobby.
Her career spanned from being a housewife, to working as system analyst and database administrator. Over the time worked in various companies, Barclays Inter-mortgage Branch, Leeds, Securicor Cellular Service Ltd, Redhill, Unum Insurer, Dorking, Daily Mail Group, Redhill and Surrey County Council, Reigate.
Being creative and self taught. Her hobby has given her a new title, She is an artist and a sculptor, a career that she had always wanted.
Although Illa’s artwork was always constant in her her life, it wasn’t until her visit to Isle of Wight, in 1986, that gave her more encouragement from a fellow artist to take her art to another level, so along side her work, her hobby, which she took seriously, she subsequently had a Solo Exhibition at Harlequin Centre, Redhill, in 1998. Followed by regular exhibitions with local groups. She was a member of Bt & Post Office Art Club, Dorking Art Group, Leatherhead Art Club and Surrey Sculpture Society.
In 2009 she had added sculptures to her portfolio. She taught herself the art of modelling in clay and subsequently finished them in various resin finishes, including bronze resin.
In 2011, she was sadly forced to give up art altogether, due to unforeseeable circumstances and subsequently, followed by her work.
In 2019, Illa gained some confidence and was able to resume sculptures in a limited capacity with assistance from her family members. With Constant encouraged by her father in law, she also gained the confidence to resume her paintings, even though her eyes failed occasionally to see colours clearly.
Illa is now a member of BT & Post office Art Club, Surrey Sculpture Society, Guildford Art Society and part of First for Art Group.
Art has given Illa a limited new lease of life, with a lot of help and support from her family, to be where she is today.
Illa is now a confident artist and a sculptor and this projects in her work, be it in her sculptures or paintings.
Illa’s sculptures mostly consist of female form in motion. She creates them in clay and cast them in marble or bronze resins. They are her own unique creations.