ZEE

Zee, a contemporary mixed-media and digital artist, was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1979. Entirely self-taught, she has developed a distinctive artistic voice unbound by the conventions or "rules" of traditional commercial art. Her work is instantly recognisable for its dynamic blend of hand-crafted media with digital manipulation, producing vibrant, layered compositions that challenge the boundaries between painting, illustration, and digital design.
Art was always a personal passion, but it wasn't until after the birth of her first child that Zee began to explore her creativity as more than a pastime. Determined to spend as much time as possible with her new baby, she began producing unique illustrations and larger-scale artworks from home, capturing her thoughts and emotions in visual form. From these modest beginnings, she began to refine her style and experiment with a range of techniques, laying the foundation for her career as a full-time artist.

Zee's professional background before art was in supply chain management and small business ownership, a career path far removed from the studio. This "late start" in the art world has given her a refreshing perspective, free from the pressures and expectations often associated with a more conventional creative trajectory. She approaches her practice with an open mind and a sense of freedom, embracing experimentation and discovery over strict adherence to process.

Her work often begins in traditional media, with acrylics and watercolours as her first creative loves. Zee paints and draws instinctively, sometimes arriving at a finished piece with no clear recollection of the steps taken along the way. She describes this as a natural, almost meditative process, where the act of making is guided as much by emotion as by conscious planning.

In recent years, technology has become central to Zee's practice. Combining her traditional skills with digital tools, she scans painted and drawn elements into high-resolution digital formats, where she manipulates, layers, and reimagines them using digital painting techniques. This process allows her to "orchestrate" her imagery with precision and creativity, integrating textures, colours, and patterns that would be difficult to achieve in a single physical medium. She often describes her style as a fusion of pop art sensibilities with the versatility and possibilities of mixed media, amplified by the speed and flexibility of modern computing.

Thematically, her work explores bold, expressive visual storytelling. Zee's compositions are rich with colour, rhythm, and form, often celebrating beauty, individuality, and the joyful unpredictability of life. The interplay between physical and digital creation gives her pieces a layered, almost tactile quality, even when viewed on screen.

Zee's journey as an artist has been marked by continual growth and evolution. From her early days creating for personal fulfilment to establishing herself as a professional artist, she has retained a spirit of exploration that keeps her work fresh and engaging. Her unique process - moving fluidly between brush and stylus, paper and pixel - reflects her belief that art should not be confined to a single approach or definition.

Now working full-time as an artist, Zee continues to produce collections that push the boundaries of her medium. Her pieces have been embraced by collectors who value the originality and vibrancy of her work, and her career continues to expand internationally. With each new series, she reaffirms her commitment to creating art "with an edge" - work that is both visually striking and deeply personal, informed by her life experiences, her love of technology, and her refusal to be limited by tradition.