Zaina Alhizami is an international artist who has trained across Europe and developed a unique style that includes bright colours and highly textured 3D elements. Her first exhibition Behind Closed Doors was due to take place in June, but of course since we recorded this episode, it has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Born in London and raised in Saudi Arabia, Zaina tells me about how her upbringing contributed to her fear of not being perfect, and why she particularly fears letting her parents down. The theme of reconciling Arab tradition with Western liberalism is one that is continuously explored in her work alongside femininity, expression and the complexity of the human experience. Zaina and I talk about the balance between keeping your family happy as well as following your own path, how the fear of not being perfect manifests itself in her personal and professional life and how she finds her "secret doors' to do what she loves.

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