I'm a full time artist originally born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. (No, I don't walk around barefoot in the street, but yes part of my family is probably inbred, frowney face). I moved abroad at 18 to go to Uni in Scotland, including semesters abroad in Damascus, Syria, and Vienna, Austria. For the past four years I've been living in Beirut, Lebanon, where I work in my atelier during the day and exercise my liver in the evenings. I'm living in Lebanon on tourist visas, so I *have to* travel somewhere every two or three months. But luckily I love travelling almost as much as my government loves collecting our phone records, so it's all gravy!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love hosting travelers (but no Canadians allowed!). My workshop/studio is a room in the apartment, so I'm usually home to let people in and out, and nag at you for not putting TP in the bin (ah... Lebanon's tuckered out infrastructure). But as an artist, I have a very flexible schedule, so I'm usually free if you need help committing a hate crime, finding a ruin, or just need someone to have a beer with.

I live with a giant Dutch guy, Renko, who used to be allot of fun, a kitten, Robert Berathion, who suffers from severe halitosis, and a free-range tortoise, Andre, who provides several reasons for wearing shoes in the flat (apparently Tortoises like toes, and he's faster than he looks). Some of the time, Renko isn't here so you can have his room, just don't let him find out. Otherwise, we have a pull out bed in one of the living rooms. An archway connects it to the main living room but these can be separated with a curtain so you can have a little privacy.

My sleep schedule has about as much rhythm as a Helen Keller Song Book, but I don't mind being woken up. It doesn't matter if you want to get up at 4 am or 4pm, I'll always want to have a coffee.

Interests

I love traditional art forms, particularly the Islamic arts of calligraphy, Illumination and geometry. If I'm not in the studio working, I'm usually at the beach if it's summer or snowboarding in the mountains if it's winter.

• arts
• writing
• books
• dining
• cooking
• beer
• coffee
• exercise
• traveling
• snowboarding
• muslim
• boxing
• business
• calligraphy
• beaches
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm a big fan of Sufi poetry and Three 6 Mafia. I also enjoy Bob Marley, Moriarty, Johnny Cash, Stromae, Bob Dylan, Alt J, Townes Van Zandt. South Park, Archer, To Catch a Predator, Modern Family, Game of Thrones, what else?

Absolutely no Kanye West, the McDonalds of music.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I shared Pizza Hut with a possum.

Teach, Learn, Share

Isn't this just a more confusing wording of the next box?

What I Can Share with Hosts

I absolutely love to cook. And polite people always tell me they love my food!

I have a Scottish Masters in International Business so I'm qualified to teach just about nothing. I'm very passionate about traditional arts, particularly Islamic Art. I can share plenty of info on calligraphy, how to make various inks and paints, or just art in general. I'm also pretty handy, so if you need any minor repairs/carpentry related projects. I'd love to help out. I also have impeccable grammar then I want to, in case you would like me to correct any formal writing.

Countries I’ve Visited

Algeria, Bahrain, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Austria, Lebanon, Syrian Arab Republic, United Kingdom, United States