Artofilina

Artofilina is the working name of Ilina Filipova, an artist who has been painting since childhood and now works from Ta' Xbiex, the quiet waterfront district next to Gżira and Sliema. Her canvases are full of the things that make Malta look the way it does: honey-coloured limestone, painted fishing boats, saturated sea and big skies. They are sold as originals, and she also paints to order for people who want something specific on their walls.

The business is listed in our directory of painters in Malta, where it stands out as an artist's studio rather than a decorating contractor. If you are after a memorable souvenir, a gift or a statement piece for a new home, it is a distinctive local option.

The artist and her subjects

Ilina describes her style as inspired by sun, sand and sea. The portfolio spans rustic Mediterranean landscapes and animals catching the sunshine, historic and religious motifs from Malta's heritage, and subjects further afield such as abstracts, flowers, clowns and nudes. Her website sorts the canvases into abstract, animals, boats, Byzantine, clowns, flowers, landscapes, nudes and other.

Recent work varies in subject, canvas size and approach, with colour as the common thread. Her photographs show thickly textured brushwork: a Marsaxlokk harbour scene with painted luzzu boats and a pink-streaked sky, a Valletta dome under a full moon, butterflies on blossom and a pale orchid study. Marsaxlokk is one of the south's best-known fishing villages, near the Blue Grotto coast, and the capital features in our Valletta guide, where the Upper Barrakka Gardens give one of the best views across the harbour that inspires so many of these scenes.

Buying and commissioning

Original paintings can be bought online and are shipped locally and internationally. Each listing gives the title, a short description, the medium and the canvas size. Valletta Moon, a skyline with a full moon, measures 61cm by 76cm and costs €1,200.00. Marsaxlokk Fishing Village, showing the church during the fish market, is 122cm by 76cm. Spring Butterflies measures 91cm by 76cm, and Pink Flamingoes with Water Lilies is 102cm by 76cm. Another original work in acrylics is priced at €2,500.00.

Commissions are welcome. Ilina can turn a photograph into a handmade painting to your specification, from small canvases to large wall art. Wall paintings range from small to large murals, and a six metre wall painting for an office is among the projects shown. Object paintings, such as still life with fruit, are available in acrylics. Prices are described as suitable for every budget, so mention your budget in your enquiry, together with the wall or room where the painting will hang and the size you have in mind. A clear brief and a good photograph make the process smoother for both sides.

Clients, exhibitions and places

Ilina works with homeowners, interior designers, office managers and hotel administrators who want original artwork showing some of Malta's best-loved views. Her work has been shown live at hotels, art galleries and the Museum of Fine Art in Valletta, and it sits in private and public collections abroad, including in Israel, Japan, the United States, England and the Netherlands. Projects include a painting for Saint Mary of Angels in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and a work for a Franciscan office in Jerusalem.

Guests staying at hotels in Valletta or hotels in Sliema often see locally made art in lobbies and rooms, and an original canvas is a lasting reminder of a trip. For ideas on what to see, browse our guides to things to do in Malta and where to stay in Malta. New residents decorating a home can also consult our Malta relocation guide.

Getting in touch

Artofilina invites visitors to talk over a coffee, so you can discuss a commission in person. To start, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page, say which painting or kind of project interests you, and we will pass your message to Ilina.