Exploring Nature and Light: An Interview with Artist and Interior Designer Alicia Zimnickas

Alicia Zimnickas, founder of AZ Interiors Studio in Cambridge, is an internationally recognised artist whose work has been exhibited across countries including Canada, the UK, France, Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania. Her paintings are featured in private collections, prestigious hotels like Marriott and Hilton, and corporate spaces such as Novartis, Mastercard, Allianz, the Lithuanian Embassy in Poland, and the Presidential Palace in Lithuania. In addition to her successful career as a painter, Alicia has been running her interior design business in Cambridge for over a decade, blending her artistic vision with bespoke interiors.

Inspiration from Nature and Light

Alicia’s work is deeply inspired by nature, light and the changing seasons. She explains:

"I have always been inspired by nature. I see it in fragments—reeds, leaves, trees—and translate these moments onto the canvas through my own lens. The place where I grew up, near the Lithuanian border in Poland, surrounded by forests and lakes, has deeply influenced me. Nature excites me, but light is equally important. The same tree in different light looks completely transformed. I aim to capture that atmosphere, not just a tree, but the feeling of sunlight, evening, or the time of day."

Her approach to colour is intuitive, aimed at evoking specific atmospheres. Alicia collects visual memories from her surroundings, photographs, and travels, using these impressions to create paintings that are both impressionistic and immersive.

The Creative Process

For Alicia, every painting begins with a concept. She sketches, experiments with colours, and visualises the piece before touching the canvas. The final outcome depends not only on planning but also on her mood that day:

"I can only paint in a good mood. When I paint, everything else disappears. Art gives me freedom from the constraints of everyday life."

She creates oversized, semi-abstract paintings inspired by nature, filled with luminous light and uplifting energy. Each piece radiates positivity and evokes a joyful, feel-good atmosphere.

Integrating Art and Interiors

As both an artist and interior designer, Alicia brings a unique perspective to her interior projects. She personally selects and advises on artworks, helping clients choose the right pieces, where to place them, and what to avoid. Her decades of professional experience, international recognition, and multiple awards give her the expertise to create interiors that harmoniously blend art and design.

Through her paintings and interiors, Alicia Zimnickas continues to create elegant, timeless, and atmospheric spaces that reflect her artistic vision and love for nature.

Explore Alicia’s work and interior design projects: www.az-interiors.co.uk/art