Biographical Details:

BA in Graphic Design, Maidstone College of Art, Kent.

Worked as a graphic designer at The National Magazine Company.

Later worked as a body painter and makeup artist for commercial photography and film.

Studied painting at Heatherleys School of Fine Art, London and painted with the Blockley Group.

2005 Elected to The Pastel Society.

Based in Devon, UK.

Artist's Statement:

My work has always been informed by nature. I enjoy the visual commotion of the landscape, and strive to capture this interplay of light, atmosphere and texture.
It is the challenge of portraying the juxtapositions of the natural world that excite me; the scratchiness of undergrowth next to a flat expanse of sea, or the gnarly trunk of a tree against a brooding sky.

During lockdown, with several teaching commitments cancelled, I decided to try to make this a period of growth as an artist. Initially I found it very difficult to focus...but eventually settled on acrylic painting for a few weeks.
I saw this as an opportunity to use acrylic on varied supports, and feel that progress made will definitely inform my pastel work.

My pastel painting process is always evolving... I have found that a layered combination of materials - gesso, acrylic paint, and finally pastel and charcoal - allows me to produce work with depth, and also facilitates the kind of energetic, expressive mark making that I love.
I generally work in the studio from copious sketches and notes gleaned on location. I find this helps me to paint the essence of what I've seen and felt, without the distraction of extraneous information.
Really, that's what painting is for me. Capturing the heart of that moment of seeing - distilled, perhaps heightened, and above all - alive.

Societies:

Member – The Pastel Society.

Awards:

2023 Mamut Pastel Award
2018 Artists’ Publishing Company Award
2018 Unison Colour Award
2014 Caran d’Ache Award
2012 Unison Pastel Award
2011 Frank Herring Award
2008 Sarah Samuels Fine Painting Award
2006 Linda Blackstone Gallery Award

Exhibitions:

Pastel Society, The Mall Galleries
RWA, Bristol
SWAc, Exeter
John Davies Gallery, Cotswolds
Twenty Twenty Gallery, Much Wenlock
Coombe Gallery, Dartmouth
Hicks Gallery, Wimbledon
Bath Contemporary, Bath

Sarah has completed corporate commissions and has her work in private collections in the UK and Europe.

Publications:

Article in 'The Pastel Journal' USA October 2014
Article in 'The Artist' March 2013
Article in 'Artists and Illustrators' November 2012
Article in ‘Artists and Illustrators’ June 2011
Article in ’The Artist’ March 2011
Article in ‘The Artist’ April 2008
Article in ‘The Pastel Journal’ USA October 2007
Article in ‘The Artist’ June 2007

Teaching:

West Dean College, W Sussex
Coombe Farm Studios, Devon