I was born and raised in Kuwait, of Egyptian parents, and came to the United States in 1980. I have been creating art for as long as I remember, but it wasn't until October of 2002 that I committed to it as a full time endeavor.

My basic technique came from six months of study with Florida Hall of Fame artist Sam Newton; I continue to draw inspiration from the works of the A. E. Backus, Martin Johnson Heade and other 19th and 20th century Florida regionalists.

 Most of my work is done in my home-studio, using photographs I have taken in undeveloped areas of east central Florida. As I gain more command over the tools of my trade, I am becoming increasingly more adventurous in my subject matter. The presence of humankind in what were once pristine environments is reflected through my occasional incorporation of dirt and paved roads, sailboats, lighthouses and other man-made creations. But even where humans have gained a foothold, majestic palms and gnarled live oaks still prevail on placid ponds where proud herons search the shoreline. That is the Florida I know and love.