Tahira Mandarino is a London-based artist. She is a mother of two and co-founder of Raw Ground Arts and Drawing Matters.She studied at Chelsea College of Arts and Wimbledon College of Arts, graduating from Wimbledon in 2014 with an MFA in Fine Art. In 2017, her drawing Portrait of Father was selected for the Jerwood Drawing Prize (now the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize), which toured nationally across the UK.

Tahira has exhibited continually in numerous Galleries and has been commissioned to create on site installations for the public. Her multidisciplinary practice centres on discovery through exposure, capturing moments of vulnerability and emotional unveiling while exploring the paradox of being both seen and unseen. Tahira embraces the complexity of working across different mediums, allowing her themes to be interpreted and expressed in multiple ways rather than being confined to a single approach. Her current work includes portraiture, textiles, and photography.

"My process is intuitive and responsive. I begin by observing the relationship between the sitter and their surroundings, looking for compositional balance through shape and colour. While some paintings remain close to the original scene, I often adjust the palette to alter atmosphere or emphasise emotional tone. I work in oil, building colour slowly in layers and allowing forms to develop through the act of painting rather than detailed planning. I aim to reduce compositional elements to create a sense of stillness and quiet atmosphere."

‘A Blue Bag Moment’ is painting that captures a personal everyday ritual.