Painter and draughtsman, born in Tehran, Persia. She settled in England in 1970 and obtained an honours degree in history of art from University of Warwick, 1977–80, an honours degree in fine art from Slade School of Fine Art, 1986–91, and during 1998–01 completed a practice-based doctorate at Falmouth College of Art and Plymouth University. Notable teachers included Bernard Cohen, Christopher Le Brun, John Aiken, Prunella Clough, Paula Rego, Bruce McLean and Tess Jaray. Moved to Cornwall in 1993, settling in Newlyn where she was a member of the Society of Artists. In 1996 she obtained a Major Award from South West Arts, with an Annual Award for Fine Art, 2001. Zia said that her pictures were drawn from observation, although “it is often the case that a memory will merge with a place or building I have been preoccupied with.