Medlej is an artist, author and educator from Lebanon, best known for her work with Kufi calligraphy, from which her visual language is derived. After an early career in graphic design, her deep connection to this tradition was awakened during the years she assisted master Samir Sayegh in his Beirut studio. She also specializes in historical art materials. Having abandoned store-bought paints for the old ways of natural colour-making, she prepares her own supplies using medieval techniques. Medlej is now based in London and works out of her Hackney Wick studio. Her work is found in private and public collections in Europe, the USA and the Middle East. She teaches Kufi calligraphy and ink-making at the Arab British Centre, the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, and other institutions upon request. She’s collaborated on educational projects with the Aga Khan Museum and the Goethe Institut, and has done work for the Royal Mint, Apple, Amnesty, BBC Arabic, and the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan. She’s authored and published books on art technology and on forgotten aspects of the Arabic letters.