top of page
Solid from the ground up
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a luminous quinacridone magenta, this piece depicts three young Bhujang Singhs mounted on horseback, each dressed in full traditional attire. The choice of a single, vibrant hue infuses the composition with warmth and vitality, softening the martial elements while highlighting the youthful energy of the riders.
The fluidity of watercolour allows the forms of the horses and figures to merge into expressive shadows, creating a sense of forward motion and shared purpose. By working within one colour family, the painting distils the scene to its emotional core, an evocation of camaraderie, discipline, and the early shaping of warrior spirit.
Power in praise
Watercolour on paper
Rendered in a rich phthalo blue, this painting portrays a Nihang Singh reclining in a moment of quiet ease, his sword resting along his side. The cool, saturated palette amplifies the sense of introspection, allowing the contours of his garments and turban to emerge through layered tonal washes.
Despite the relaxed posture, the presence of traditional adornments and the visible blade maintain an undercurrent of disciplined readiness. The limited colour range heightens the emotional clarity of the scene, capturing a rare pause within the life of a warrior, stillness held inside strength.
Hunt in packs
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a warm pyrrole orange, this piece portrays four Nihang Singhs walking together, their figures arranged in a gentle diagonal that suggests movement and shared purpose. The eldest Singh appears to gesture ahead, while the other Singhs follow alongside him. This subtle grouping evokes a moment of guidance, protection, and generational continuity within the Nihang tradition.
The use of a single vibrant hue unifies the composition, allowing light and form to emerge through translucent washes. The monochrome palette imbues the scene with warmth and cohesion, highlighting the quiet bonds of mentorship and the collective identity carried forward through each member of the group.
Iron heart
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a muted Payne’s grey, this work portrays a Sikligar Sikh a member of the historic weapons crafting community entrusted with forging arms for the Khalsa. The figure crouches in concentrated labour, holding the wooden shaft of a spear while several spearheads and metal fittings lie arranged at his feet, indicating the process of assembling a new weapon.
The cool grey palette heightens the sense of discipline and precision, allowing the textures of fabric, wood, and steel to emerge through subtle tonal shifts. By focusing on the act of making rather than the finished form, the painting honours the essential yet often overlooked role of the Sikligar Sikhs, artisans whose skill, resilience, and devotion helped sustain Sikh martial sovereignty across generations.
Guided by the one
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a soft dioxazine purple, this composition portrays three Nihang Singhs seated together in a moment of quiet attentiveness. The Singh closest to the viewer gestures outward with his hand, directing attention toward something unseen. The central figure holds a rifle upright, its presence reinforcing the disciplined readiness of the group. The third Singh sits straight backed, composed and contemplative, yet clearly attentive to the shared focus.
The monochromatic palette lends the scene a reflective calm, allowing subtle tonal variations to define posture, cloth, and expression. Through this limited colour field, the painting conveys a sense of collective awareness, three warriors momentarily still, unified by purpose rather than motion.
Stay thorough to the end
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a delicate cerulean blue, this piece depicts two Nihang Singhs walking side by side, viewed from behind. One carries a traditional metal pot in his left hand, while the other holds a long spear upright as they move forward in unison. Their garments, turbans, and gear are rendered through gentle tonal variations, allowing the figures to emerge with clarity while maintaining the softness characteristic of watercolour.
The choice of a single cool hue imparts a sense of calm movement, an impression of journey, companionship, and understated discipline. By capturing them in motion rather than in stance, the painting reflects the everyday rhythm of the warrior’s path: purposeful, steady, and rooted in shared commitment.
Gratitude is a must
Watercolour on paper
Rendered in a vivid ultramarine blue, this portrait captures a Nihang Singh seated with relaxed confidence, hands loosely clasped and a gentle, knowing expression on his face. His posture grounded, open, and unhurried contrasts with the sword resting discreetly at his side, a reminder of the disciplined life he embodies.
The monochromatic palette enhances the serenity of the moment, allowing subtle shifts in tone to bring forward the textures of fabric, skin, and beard. Through this restrained use of colour, the work highlights the quiet dignity and warmth of the subject, portraying strength not through tension but through presence, ease, and lived experience.
The Sky is my eye line
Watercolour on paper
Painted in a cool cerulean ultramarine blend, this portrait depicts a Nihang Singh standing in calm profile, his hands held behind his back as he gently grasps a small metal bowl. A long sword hangs at his left side, only its tip visible from this angle, subtly signalling the martial discipline underlying his otherwise composed stance.
The monochromatic blue palette brings a sense of serenity and spaciousness, allowing the folds of his garments, the texture of his beard, and the contours of his turban to emerge through delicate tonal shifts. Through its simplicity and stillness, the painting conveys quiet dignity, a moment of pause in which devotion, humility, and readiness coexist in perfect balance.
Divine
Watercolour on paper
Rendered with luminous blue tones, this portrait depicts a highly revered Akali Nihang Singh general whose presence radiates quiet authority and spiritual depth. Vibrant garlands of pink, yellow, and orange drape across his chest, their colours glowing against the serenity of his attire. In his hand, he prepares to scatter flower petals, a gesture imbued with grace, blessing, and profound compassion.
The interplay of soft light and layered colour gives the figure an almost ethereal aura, evoking the kind of spiritual luminosity associated with the highest guides of the tradition. Through measured brushwork and a gentle transition of tones across face and fabric, the painting captures the devotional radiance they carry, an embodiment of humility, service, and divine presence in human form.
PIND 1
PIND 2
PIND 3
PIND 4
PIND 5
PIND 6
PIND 7
PIND 8
PIND 9
PIND 10
PIND 11
PIND 12
PIND 13
Horns
TPAB
And then the jooks go down, all at once they like....
bottom of page