‘Testimony of Faith’. Image: see artist’s website, below.
Qashif Masud is a Bradford-based artist and wood-craftsman, who is carrying on a long family tradition of working with wood in the honour and service of his faith. His company, QM Design, is run from his home studio and workshop. With 14 years experience of design, art and craft, Qashif works with traditional woodworking tools and methods, fashioning Arabic calligraphy and geometric designs into a wide range of woods, sourced globally, chosen for their colours, density and textures, relevant to the set design task.
‘Creations of the World’. Image: see artist’s website, below
Qashif gained a HND then BSc. (Hons) degree in Construction Property Management at the University of Salford, graduating in 2009. Although still employed full-time as a professional engineer, he has in parallel developed the creative art-related side of his life. He says of his art:
The caterpillar must leave its home to become a butterfly … When l am not working, l enjoy being an artist. Over the past few years l have grown my passion into setting up an art gallery, where l had my work showcased for the public. I continue to be an ambassador for arts and as my creativeness grows so does my passion.
‘Rest Your Hearts’: ( ‘Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest’ (13:28). Image: see artist’s website below.
He was the winning finalist at the Artistic Jihad’ Art Competition, 2011, organised by the University of Art in London and the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS). His work was also exhibited in 2016 at the Craven Museum and Art Gallery, Skipton, in the ‘Faith in Art’ (Islamic Art in Britain) exhibition, and also in 2016 at Bradford Museums and Galleries, Cartwright Hall, as part of the exhibition by local artists in response to remembrance of World War One.
‘Love Thy Partner’. Image: see artist’s website, below.
Manchester Victoria Park Mosque Project
Iqra Primary School
Shimla Restaurant
The artist’s motto is ‘For the love of all things handmade’.
Artist’s website: qm.design
Short Video: Qashif Masud
Instagram: qmdesign7