BA (Hons) Major Painting, Minor History of Art & Design
FENTO Teaching Degree
Born in Worcestershire Sandra is a professional landscape artist working from her studio in the Wyre Forest.
She gained her BA (Hons) in Painting and History of Art & Design in 1995 at Wolverhampton University under the tuition of Knighton Hosking.
Her first solo exhibition took place a year before she graduated, and that same year also had a successful three man show at RBSA in Birmingham ‘Drawing The Battlelines’, along with winning a major prize at The Mid Art Show, Himley Hall.
Sandra is a qualified lecturer in Art and taught in Further Education, as well as working as a freelance artist leading community arts projects such as Art in Mind and Sandwell Third Age Arts – a charity providing access to the arts for the elderly and people with dementia.
She says living in the forest, so close to nature, has had a profound effect on her recent work:
"Everything about the forest captivates and relaxes me. Nature has long been acknowledged and accepted for what it has to offer in the way of healing and beauty. My work attempts to share this experience of the landscape to encourage us to consider what we now have and undoubtedly must protect."
Her paintings from a historical point of view can be seen to bare references to impressionism, realism and abstract expressionism. They are heavily textured which enables her to capture the tactile quality of the landscape. She uses palette knives, trowels and drips, even throwing paint at the canvas in order to convey her response to it. Her seascapes also display the same immediacy of mark making.
Her work is held in both public and private collections both at home and abroad.
It’s clear that Sandra loves to paint and paint what she loves…. Nature.
- 2020 - Google Arts and Culture (NHS heroes permanent online exhibition)
- 2020 - Workshop Wales Gallery
- 2020 - The Lion Street Gallery
- 2020 - Bevere Gallery
- 2020 - Arran Art Gallery
- 2019 - Bevere Gallery - Worcester
- 2019 - The Lion Street Gallery
- 2019 - Workshop Wales Gallery
- 2019 - Arran Art Gallery
- 2019 - Ludlow Summer Exhibition (prize winner)
- 2018 - The Lion Street Gallery - Hay on Wye
- 2018 - Jake Irving Ceramics - Kirkcudbright
- 2018 - The Moreton Gallery - Morton in Marsh Exhibition
- 2018 - Workshop Wales Gallery Exhibition
- 2017 - Bevere Gallery - Worcester
- 2017 - Ludlow Summer Exhibition – Distillers (prize winner)
- 2015 - Lochranza Blended Whiskey Label - Isle of Arran
- 2007-2020 - Arran Art Gallery - Isle of Arran
- 2004-2006 - STAA (Sandwell Third Age Arts)
- 2004 - Certificate in Further Education Teaching
- 2001-2006 - The Lighthouse Project - tutor History
- 2001-2006 - Lecturer – Halesowen College - Expressive Arts/Art
- 1999-2006 - Lead artist - Art in Mind – Sandwell Creative Arts
- 1999 - Birchfield Project – Sandwell Creative Arts - permanent exhibition
- 1997 - Permanent exhibition – Haden Vale Medical
- 1996 - Permanent exhibition - Halesowen College
- 1995 - Wolverhampton University - Final Show
- 1995 - Prize Winner – The Mid Art Show – Himley Hall
- 1994 - Showcase Exhibition - Halesowen
- 1994 - The Man Show "Drawing the Battlelines" - Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
- 1994 - Solo exhibition "Confronting The Foundry"
- 1994 - Artist in Residence – Newby Foundry - Wednesbury
- 1992-2005 - Founder member of Sanctum Artists Workshop
- 1991 - Holmfirth Art Gallery Exhibition (prize winner)