Didem Tereyagoglu
Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd.
Watercolor Artwork – Double-page spread used as an advertisement and editorial visual.
This watercolor series reimagines Gulf Keystone Petroleum’s Shaikan oil field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq—one of the region’s most vital upstream assets—through the visual transformation of all four seasons. More than an artistic exploration, the work captures how an energy facility evolves across spring, summer, autumn, and winter, symbolizing both environmental shifts and key milestones in the company’s journey.
Due to the field’s remote location, harsh terrain, and sensitive security conditions, photographic documentation was limited. This project filled that visual gap—reconstructing the facility in vivid watercolor to portray not only its physical structure, but also its enduring presence within a changing landscape. Created for The Oil & Gas Year, the artwork blends handcrafted detail with industry research, offering a rare emotional lens on a sector often represented through raw data.
Gulf Keystone Petroleum, listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a key player in Iraq’s independent oil production strategy. The Shaikan Field stands as one of Iraqi Kurdistan’s most productive oil sites, contributing significantly to the region’s economic stability. Through this layered narrative, the illustration not only reinforces the tagline “With Kurdistan Through and Through” but also expresses the company’s strategic and symbolic role on a global stage—bridging local development with international energy markets.
To present Gulf Keystone’s oil field as more than a site of extraction—as a living, evolving landscape, emphasizing long-term presence and emotional connection with the region.
The piece aimed to:
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Serve as a distinctive branding alternative to standard facility photos
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Reinforce the company’s image as a stable operator throughout the year
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Provide a creative asset usable across print, digital, and partnership materials
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Enhance narrative connection between the company and Kurdistan’s people
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This watercolor was not only published as a double-page ad in The Oil & Gas Year – Iraqi Kurdistan Edition, but it also played a key role in securing Gulf Keystone’s long-term strategic partnership across our media platforms. The strength and originality of the artwork helped elevate the company’s brand presence, resulting in:
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A multi-channel sponsorship across our print, digital, and editorial platforms
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An extended collaboration agreement for the following year
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A deepened trust that positioned Gulf Keystone as a flagship partner for the region
The piece demonstrated how tailored visual storytelling can translate into editorial alignment, client retention, and commercial expansion—a rare trifecta in the energy publishing industry.
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No usable photography due to security concerns and remote field location
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Visual storytelling had to be compelling without showing people or exact facility details
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Short turnaround time for a double-page spread tied to both editorial and commercial goals
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Needed to balance brand guidelines with the expressive tone of watercolor
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