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Hilmi Şimşek Studio

About Centre

Hilmi Şimşek Studio is an artist-led learning space in Istanbul, offering individual and small-group tuition in fine art, drawing, painting, contemporary ink practice, graphic design, illustration, animation and portfolio development. Students work directly alongside a practising professional artist in an environment that encourages observation, experimentation, technical development and the discovery of an individual visual language.
The studio combines strong foundations in drawing and painting with contemporary and cross-cultural approaches to art-making. Particular emphasis is placed on developing ideas, composition, visual storytelling, personal expression and portfolio work, supporting young artists who are preparing for international art and design education as well as students who wish to deepen their own creative practice. The studio also offers opportunities to explore graphic design, illustration and animation, allowing students to develop ideas across both traditional and contemporary visual disciplines.
Outdoor drawing and watercolour sessions are also organised in the historic and natural settings of Istanbul, encouraging students to observe and respond directly to the city’s unique visual, cultural and architectural environment.

Facilities:

  • Dedicated artist-led studio and teaching space in Istanbul
  • Easels, drawing boards and work tables for drawing and painting
  • Individual and small-group working areas
  • Materials and facilities for drawing, painting, watercolour, ink and mixed-media practices
  • Traditional sumi-e and contemporary ink painting tools, including specialist brushes, ink stones and papers
  • Space for large-format drawing, painting and works on paper
  • Facilities for basic printmaking and relief-print processes
  • Portfolio development and one-to-one mentoring
  • Support for illustration, graphic design and visual development projects
  • Opportunities for outdoor drawing and watercolour sessions in Istanbul’s historic, natural and architectural settings
  • Access to Istanbul’s rich cultural environment, including museums, galleries, exhibitions and historic sites

Contact

Istanbul, Türkiye

Opening Hours:

By appointment – Individual and small-group tuition available throughout the week.

Address

Levazım mah. Koru sok. Levazım sitesi G5 blok D:1 Beşiktaş/İstanbul - Türkiye

Phone/Whatsapp

+90 533 423 83 47

Email

Hilmi Şimşek is a contemporary ink artist, painter and art educator based in Istanbul, Türkiye. He graduated from Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting. His artistic practice spans contemporary ink painting, sumi-e, ensō, drawing, watercolour, figurative work, illustration and visual storytelling, bringing together contemporary expression with elements of Turkish and Japanese cultural memory.
His work has been presented in national and international exhibitions and cultural projects. In 2026, his work was selected for the 25th International Sumi-e Association Exhibition at The National Art Center, Tokyo. In 2024, he presented a solo sumi-e exhibition in Istanbul marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Japan, developed in collaboration with Japanese diplomatic institutions in Türkiye. His wider creative background also includes illustration and cartoon work, enriching his approach to visual narrative and conceptual development.
Alongside his professional art practice, Hilmi has many years of experience teaching and mentoring young artists. His teaching focuses on drawing, painting, portfolio development, composition, conceptual thinking and helping students discover their own visual language. He also supports students working across illustration, graphic design and animation, combining strong artistic foundations with experimentation, observation and individual creative development.

Additional Workshops

Outdoor Drawing & Watercolour Workshops
Sumi-e & Contemporary Ink Workshops
Portfolio Development Workshops
Illustration & Visual Storytelling Workshops
En Plein Air Drawing Workshops

Expertise

  • Fine Art Drawing and Painting
  • Observational and Figurative Drawing
  • Watercolour Painting
  • Contemporary Ink Painting
  • Sumi-e – Japanese Ink Painting
  • Ensō and Expressive Brush Practice
  • Experimental Drawing and Mark Making
  • Composition, Colour and Visual Language
  • Illustration and Visual Storytelling
  • Cartoon and Conceptual Illustration
  • Graphic Design and Visual Communication
  • Animation, Storyboarding and Visual Narrative
  • Mixed Media and Works on Paper
  • Printmaking – Lino and Relief Printing
  • En Plein Air – Drawing and Watercolour on Location
  • Large-format Drawing and Painting
  • Concept Development and Creative Thinking
  • Portfolio Development for Art & Design Students
  • Developing a Personal Visual Language
  • Individual Artistic Development and Mentoring

 

Additional Workshops

  • Outdoor Drawing & Watercolour Workshops
  • Sumi-e & Contemporary Ink Workshops
  • Portfolio Development Workshops
  • Illustration & Visual Storytelling Workshops
  • En Plein Air Drawing Workshops

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