Vibha is a Scottish-Indian artist based in Edinburgh, where she has lived for the past twenty five years.

She was born in India and grew up with the Himalayas as a backdrop. She is largely a self-taught artist who started painting at an early age. Her education was in biological sciences – she obtained her MPhil from University of Swansea and was awarded a doctorate for her thesis on knowledge mobilisation in public health from the University of Edinburgh. In Scotland she worked for the NHS and has also had short stints with the voluntary sector and the Scottish Government. She took painting full time after taking early retirement in 2017 – to explore avenues for her artistic journey she undertook short courses at Edinburgh College of Art.

Vibha has exhibited her work at 9 exhibitions, which include her solo exhibitions, An exhibition of paintings at Fairmilehead Church on June 30 2023 and Amaranthine, at the Dundas Street Gallery in 2020. Her work has been reviewed in Artmag. She has also been interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland and Radio AwazFM Glasgow about her art.

A collection of Vibha’s paintings has been published as a collaborative poetry and art venture entitled Patient Dignity (https://www.scotlandstreetpress.com/artists/dr-vibha-pankaj).

Artist’s statement

My artistic inspiration comes from my lived in life – childhood stories about human relationship with the environment and from the time spent in places with abundant natural beauty. Walks on Scottish hills continue to ignite my deep-rooted connection with nature – its offer of hope, comfort, freedom and unconditional friendship. After all, the basic elements of our existence include space, water, air and earth as per ancient Indian philosophy.

My process of painting is varied – most of the works originate entirely from memories and feelings, some from photographs taken during walks and others through an amalgamation of imagination and observation. I grew up in India and now live in Scotland – my past and present intertwine in my art. I believe that the interplay of light, wind, water (streams and rain) on the natural environment in fast changing weather displays magical scenarios waiting to be captured.

Living in Edinburgh, I feel that I am fortunate to be a constant recipient of the magical gifts from Scottish hills. They always offer something new through the changing seasons and weather - beaming with different colours and sounds – the varying shades of gorse, shimmering trees and singing birds.

While COVID and the resulting lockdown was a source of anguish, I observed a new zeal in the hills and woods – kids flying kites, bikes whizzing past, families walking, jogging and enjoying picnics along with regular dog walkers – a pleasant escape from isolation. Resilience, radiance, hope and ephemeral darkness were the sentiments projected by nature during the lockdown. It was exhilarating to see the hills full of hope and joy in the face of despair – this paradox inspired some of my paintings done during the lockdown.

I warmly invite you to explore my art on this website. If anything interests you, please feel free to contact me regarding the purchase of originals & prints, workshop facilitation, more information on my method, and/or commission of work.

Exhibitions

1.      June 30, 2023, An Exhibition of Paintings - Solo exhibition at Fairmilehead Parish Church, Edinburgh

2. May 27- June 9, 2022, Junor Gallery, St Andrews, (https://junorgallery.scot/artists/vibha-) J&G Innes Ltd, 105-107 South St, St Andrews KY16 9QW

3.       November 19, 2021 - Patient Dignity - Book Launch and exhibition of paintings –created during the pandemic 2020 lockdown (www.scotlandstreetpress.com/journal/a-conversation-with-bashabi-fraser-and-vibha-pankaj-about-making-patient-dignity-during-the-pandemic), St Vincent’s Chapel, Edinburgh.

4.       November 1-23, 2021 - Scottish Society of Artists, , 123rd ANNUAL Exhibition, RSA, The Mound, Edinburgh

5.       November 19-25, 2020Amaranthine – Solo exhibition at the Dundas Street Gallery Edinburgh

6.       March 22-24, 2019Madder, Exhibition of the work of Centre for Open Learning; University of Edinburgh.

7.       March 3–8, 2018 – The art exhibition by Juniper Collective at the Dundas Street Gallery Edinburgh.

8.       Nov 13- Feb 7, 2018/19 - Working in the Margins, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh.

9.       September 3-29, 2018 - Impressions of the sea, sand and hills of Scotland, The Newington Library, Edinburgh.

10.       April 3, 2017 - Self-directed practice – Developing a language, Exhibition, Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh.

11. 2016-2018- various Edinburgh College of Art exhibitions

Reviews, presentations and media

Publishing Scotland, 25 March 2022 - Feature article - Interview: Patient Dignity (Bashabi Fraser and Vibha Pankaj) https://www.publishingscotland.org/feature/interview-patient-dignity/

BBC Radio Scotland, 21 November 2021 – Sunday morning with Connie McLaughlin, Poet Bashabi Fraser and artist Vibha Pankaj on their creative collaboration. https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl8g/2021/11/21

Scotland Street Press (2021)– An interview with Bashabi Fraser and Vibha Pabkaj https://www.scotlandstreetpress.com/journal/a-conversation-with-bashabi-fraser-and-vibha-pankaj-about-making-patient-dignity-during-the-pandemic

Vibha Pankaj in conversation - Junor Gallery July 2022 - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy_IOKZFCl4)

Radio interview of Vibha Pankaj with Awaz FM Glasgow - https://www.facebook.com/awazfmglasgow/videos/1088061881632354/?sfnsn=scwspmo

 John Purser - review of paintings published in ‘Patient Dignity’

Of all the images, the one that will haunt me is Miles to go. Vibha Pankaj paints from the heart and even in reproduction one can see this - and there is a freedom and also a daring with colour and form that reminds me a little of Jack Yeats and matches your own poetic freedoms. But also the gean accompanying 'Remember', its pointilliste array of white flowers in early spring in the woods so striking.

Dr Mario Relich - I have been dipping into the poems in 'Patient Dignity'.  However, today I have decided to read the collection from cover to cover in our sitting room, and most of the time the sun shone brightly, as if illuminating your poems.  It is certainly a sequence of great relevance at a time of environmental crisis, and the poems reinforce each other in various ways.  I am deeply honoured by your poem dedicated to me, namely 'Moments of Truth and Hope', especially being associated with ragas!  But possibly my favourite of them all is 'At Home with Sparrows'.  It's the kind of poem I wish I had written.   The title-poem is perfect in its analogy.   Pankaj's paintings are fully in tune with your poems, while of course coming up with a visual/artistic  perspective all her own.

The National, 7th February 2022-. Review of Patient Dignity - Poetry books to bring pleasure amid self-serving politics Prof.Alan Riach (Glasgow University)

https://www.thenational.scot/culture/19903885.alan-riach-poetry-books-bring-pleasure-amid-self-serving-politics/

Artmag Review of Solo exhibition, AMARANTHINE (2020)
https://artmag.co.uk/vibha-pankaj-brings-a-glimpse-of-the-everlasting-at-dundas-street-gallery/

https://www.artmag.co.uk/the-juniper-collective-a-showcase-of-refreshingly-innovative-art-work/