Abbottabad painter keeps portrait art alive

Shehzad spent four decades capturing stories through portraits, cinematic paintings

ABBOTTABAD:

On a quiet morning in Abbottabad, a canvas rests against a studio wall while careful brushstrokes slowly bring a face to life.

For artist Nasir Shehzad, each portrait is more than an image—it is a story captured in colour, memory and emotion. After more than four decades devoted to visual arts, Shehzad has emerged as one of the region's most dedicated practitioners of portraiture and cinematic painting.

Shehzad's relationship with art began in childhood. Growing up in Abbottabad, he spent hours sketching faces, landscapes and everyday scenes. What started as curiosity gradually evolved into a lifelong commitment to artistic expression. By the early 1980s, his talent began to receive recognition through competitions and scouting events that encouraged young creative minds.

His first major participation came in 1982 when he entered a competition organised by the District Boys Scout Association. The following year he took part in the District High School Scouting Tournament in 1983, earning recognition for his work.

In 1985 he participated in competitions organised by the Pakistan Boys Scouts Association, an experience that strengthened his confidence and determination to pursue art seriously.

By 1989, Shehzad had stepped into the professional world of cinematic painting—an art form traditionally associated with film publicity, cinema billboards and large-scale visual compositions.

The field allowed him to experiment with dramatic colours and bold imagery while refining the skills that would later define his portrait work.

His contribution to the local art community expanded in the 1990s. Between 1993 and 1996, he served as a mentor at the Hazara Abaseen Arts Council, guiding emerging artists and encouraging creative exploration. In 1994, he founded Al Nasir Advertising, a creative platform that blended commercial design with artistic production and continues to operate today.

Over the years, Shehzad's artistic journey has been marked by numerous exhibitions, residencies and cultural events across Pakistan. Early recognition included participation in an event organised by the Salik Peace Educational Foundation at the Awari Hotel in 1992.

In recent years, his presence on the national art scene has grown steadily. In 2023, he participated in the Naran Residency 5th Annual Artist Summer Camp and served as curator at an exhibition held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

Later that year, his cinematic artwork was displayed at an exhibition hosted by Lok Virsa in Islamabad.

His exhibitions continued through 2024 with shows at Kopra Art Gallery and the Neelum Valley Residency. During the Skardu Residency, he presented the "Autumn Landscape Series," capturing the seasonal beauty of northern Pakistan. His works were also featured in the "Umeed-e-Nau Bahar" exhibition at PNCA.

The following year brought further recognition, including exhibitions at the Lahore Museum and the Pak-China Friendship Exhibition.

At the National Art Exhibition in Karachi, he presented a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah that attracted significant attention from visitors and fellow artists.

Beyond exhibitions, Shehzad has also contributed actively to art education. He conducted live painting demonstrations at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi in 2024 and at the University of Education Lahore in 2025.

Additional demonstrations took place at Kalam Radiance in 2024 and earlier in Haripur in 2022.

His role in nurturing artistic talent extends to judging competitions as well. He served as a jury member for the National Talent Award organised by the Pakistan Talent Council in 2015 and again in 2024. In 2025, he was also invited to serve as a jury member at Hazara University.

Throughout his career, Shehzad has received numerous certificates, awards and appreciation letters recognising his artistic contributions. Among them is the 22nd Annual National Talent Award from the Pakistan Talent Council, Abbottabad, in 2015 and recognition from various cultural and educational institutions across the country.