Zeynep Işık Çetinkaya was born in Istanbul in 1980. She graduated from Marmara University Fine Arts Faculty Traditional Turkish Arts Illumination Miniature Department in 2003, and completed her graduate studies at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Traditional Turkish Arts Department in 2007. Çetinkaya did many kalem işi implementations, produced artworks with the Classical period illumination style; and in her recent studies, she has been blending illumination and miniature arts with cubic expansions without losing the essence of the classical forms. Her works were exhibited at All Arts Istanbul Classical and Modern Art Fair in 2013. She continues her illumination studies with Gülnihal Küpeli, from whom she received her license. Çetinkaya continues her artistic works at her workshop, and works as an illumination instructor at İSMEK Turkish Islamic Arts Center.