Art by Zax — original watercolours
Original Watercolours

Imagined
landscapes
in watercolour.

Original paintings by Zakia Khan — Stockholm-based artist. Atmospheric landscapes inspired by memory, imagination and Nordic light.

View paintings → Meet the artist
80+
Original works
12
Series
8 countries
Collected
30+ originals in private collections · Collected in 8 countries · Exhibited Stockholm · Umbria · Norway · Signed originals · No reproductions
Imagining Lofoten
Lofoten
Imagining Lofoten
Seven paintings inspired by a lighthouse keeper's island in the 1890s.
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Birches
Birches
Birches
Swedish birch forests — painted from imagination, again and again.
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Lucca
Lucca
Lucca
Arcades, courtyards and Italian stone in afternoon light.
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Umbria
Umbria
Umbria
Golden alleys, cypress valleys and Umbrian hills.
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Nordic
Nordic
Nordic
Frozen lakes, autumn forests and sunsets that last for hours.
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Sweden
Sweden
Sweden
Rocky coastlines, estuary light and Stockholm streets.
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Lakes
Lakes
Lakes
Still water, reflection and the quiet of mountain tarns.
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Nature
Nature
Nature
Sea, sky, forest and lake — larger works on paper.
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Bali
Bali
Bali
Tropical light, ancient temples and fishing harbours at dusk.
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Animals
Animals
Animals
Animals painted as presences, not portraits.
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Cities
Cities
Cities
Italian piazzas, Stockholm streets, figures in cafés.
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Provence
Provence
Provence
Lavender fields, hilltop villages and the bleaching light of the south.
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About the artist
Zakia Khan — Zax

Zakia Khan —
Zax

I am primarily a watercolourist but also work in other media. My inspiration is nature — often imagined. I aim to convey the feeling of a bird as it sits in my hand, the fur of a cheetah that I once petted through a wire fence, the coarse texture of an elephant's trunk.

My work is repetitive. I paint the same or similar images again and again. I seldom strive for perfection or accuracy, but try to capture a feeling, a light or an atmosphere — testing colours and textures to see how far and in which directions I can push the mood of a painting.

I paint the same or similar images again and again — looking for a feeling, a light, an atmosphere I cannot quite name but always recognise when I find it.

I grew up in the United Kingdom with Norwegian and Indian parents, moved to Sweden in the 1980s, and have painted in Asia, Europe and Central America. I spend much of the year in Umbria, Italy, painting in solitude near Monte Santa Maria Tiberina.

Exhibitions
  • 2026Galleri Svea, Gamla Stan, Stockholm — Group exhibition
  • 2026Spring exhibition, Basis Art School, Stockholm
  • 2026Artisti al Monte, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, Italy
  • 2025Artisti al Monte, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, Italy
  • 2024Artisti al Monte, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, Italy
  • 2023Artisti al Monte, Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria, Italy
  • 2023Søndre Sandøy, Hvaler, Norway
What collectors & visitors say

In their own words

"Starka uttryck och vackra akvareller."
Viveka & Mirjam
Exhibition visitor
"Fantastisk kontrast mellan verken. Slog an på flera platser i mig."
Yael
Exhibition visitor
"Tack för denna fina upplevelse av konst som väcker både nyfikenhet och välbehag."
Exhibition visitor
Galleri Svea, Stockholm 2026
"Otroligt vackra akvareller och stort tack för undervisningen i urban sketching!"
Ulrika
Workshop participant
"Fina bilder och njutbara."
Eva-Gun & Monica
Exhibition visitor
"Inspiring!"
Gasper
Workshop participant
"En upplevelse!"
Tony
Exhibition visitor
Collected works

Works in private collections

These paintings have found homes in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia and the UK.

30+ originals in private collections worldwide

West Coast I — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
West Coast I
Watercolour on paper · Original
West Coast II — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
West Coast II
Watercolour on paper · Original
Elephant in the Savanna — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Elephant in the Savanna
Watercolour on paper · Original
Golden Birch Forest — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Golden Birch Forest
Watercolour on paper · Original
Skeppsholmen with Boats — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Skeppsholmen with Boats
Watercolour on paper · Original
Pine Forest — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Pine Forest
Watercolour on paper · Original
Mountain Walk — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Mountain Walk
Watercolour on paper · Original
Lervika — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Lervika
Watercolour on paper · Original
Hötorget 2 — sold watercolour by Zakia Khan
Sold
Hötorget 2
Watercolour on paper · Original

Interested in commissioning a similar work? Commission a painting →

Commission a painting

A landscape
painted for you.

I paint landscapes — real places, remembered places, and imagined ones. A commission is an opportunity to have a place that matters to you painted in watercolour. A family cabin. A view you miss. A coast you return to in your mind.

  • Landscapes in watercolour — from memory, photograph or imagination
  • From 4 000 kr · size and complexity discussed per commission
  • Signed original, framed and shipped to you
  • Limited availability — enquire early
Enquire about a commission →
"A commission is an opportunity to have a place that matters to you painted in watercolour."
Previous commissions have included coastal views, Swedish summer landscapes, Umbrian hillsides, and Nordic winter scenes.
From 4 000 kr
Signed original · Framed · Shipped
Before you buy

Collector FAQ

Is shipping included? +

Yes. All prices include shipping to Sweden and most of Europe. For international shipping outside Europe, please get in touch and I will arrange a quote.

Are the paintings framed? +

Most paintings are sold framed. Some are available unframed — the listing will specify. If you are unsure, just ask.

Can I collect in Stockholm? +

Yes. If you are in Stockholm, collection in person is welcome. Contact me and we will arrange a convenient time.

Are these signed originals? +

Yes. Every painting is a unique, hand-painted original signed by Zakia Khan. No prints or reproductions are sold on this site.

Can I commission a painting? +

Yes — landscape commissions are accepted. From 4 000 kr. See the commission section →

Ask a question →

For first-time collectors

Why collect
original watercolours?

Original art changes the atmosphere of a space in a way that no print can. Each painting carries the time, light and intention of the moment it was made.

Browse available paintings →
Unique signed original
Every painting exists once. Signed by Zakia Khan. No prints or reproductions are sold.
Frame & shipping included
Framed works are sold ready to hang. Shipping included to Sweden and Europe.
Collected internationally
Works in collections in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Canada, USA, Australia and the UK.
Collect in Stockholm
If you're based in Stockholm, collection in person is always welcome.
Studio newsletter

New paintings.
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Urban
Sketching
in Stockholm

Sketch & Paint — An Afternoon on Södermalm

When Saturday 29 August 2026 · 15:00
Where Basis Art School, Folkungagatan 147
Price 500 kr · everything included
Book your place → Pay by card
29
AUG
What's included
  • Watercolour paints, paper & brushes
  • Introduction to watercolour
  • Snacks & beverages
  • All skill levels welcome
Spaces limited
500 kr
per person
Swish
076-024 32 44
artbyzax.com
Labarotta — Art Retreat in Umbria, September 2026
Art Retreat · September 2026 · Umbria, Italy

Six days painting
in the Umbrian hills.

Small, intimate retreats at Meone Vecchio — painting in the open air, long dinners, Patrizia's cooking, and hills that have been patient for a very long time. 6–12 September 2026. Maximum 5 guests.

See retreats →
Buy a painting

All paintings shown are originals available to purchase. Payment by SumUp (secure card) or Swish. I also take commissions — get in touch and we'll talk through what's possible.

Paintings shipped carefully from Stockholm. Framed paintings: frame included. Unframed watercolours: contact for framing options. Contact for international shipping.
Payment
Swish · +46 76 024 32 44
Pay by Swish or SumUp (card).
Pay by card (SumUp) →
Retreat deposits

Reserve a place on a Labarotta retreat in Umbria. €300 deposit, fully refundable until 30 days before.

Read more about the retreats →
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