Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

60 by 80cm

This explosive painting is based on a photograph taken in Tilgate park. This area was part of the ancient Worth forest but now an invaluable recreational area for the local community. Sarah took her young family to the park and woodland throughout their childhood to see the changing seasons. The photograph was taken in early Autumn, the Acers were vibrant red and their leaves created a sea of leaves spreading outwards which contrasts with the evergreens behind. The title of this piece was a quote taken from ‘Downpour’ by Penelope Shuttle.

To create the canvas Sarah used 1920s bed linen, 1960s dress fabric, 1990s curtain fabric and 2010 Ikea fabric. This collage of fabrics from different ages and the way you can see different layers of the paint and fabric makes this painting a documentation of the passing of time. As layers of paint are revealed or painted over the viewer can see how the painting has evolved. Sarah has used sand paper, scratching and washing away the painted surface to reveal different stages of the process.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

The title of this piece was a quote taken from The Green Man by Jane Gardam and Mary Fedden. A book which has been passed through the artists family to her own children. The canvas for this painting is made from a section of an arm chair Sarah’s Grandmother owned for many years. The piece of fabric remains the same shape, with areas that have been hand stitched and the seams still visible. The dark blue background fabric is from off cuts of a ball dress from the artist’s Mother. The photograph which Sarah worked from on this painting was taken in Tilgate Park, now an important recreational area for the community but was part of the ancient Worth Forest. The photograph was taken in late Autumn as the majority of the leaves had fallen from the trees and the air was crisp which made the light cold and white.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

Sarah took the photograph for this painting during the summer lock down in 2020. At this time there was extremely contrasting emotions in both society and peoples personal lives. Sarah has used highly contrasted tone to emphasis the shadows, light and dark in this painting. It is constructed from Sarah’s own nursery curtains combined with off cuts of dress fabric from her grandmother and from a ball dress a student had made for her cancelled Prom. The canvas has personal and collective history from the past but also dramatic events that are happening in the present. The painted pallet are greens and blues to contrast with the orange fabric.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

This painting captures a family walk through Winkworth Arboretum, where its founder Wilfrid Fox had passionately planted an Autumnal vista. He had taken land that had been cleared to give Larch wood to the war effort in 1940. Enlisting the help of his family members, nieces, nephews and grandchildren he planted Japanese Maples and Azaleas. This area of woodland was planted and created by a family made up of different generations and the photograph was taken during a walk with different generations of Sarah’s family. The title of this piece was a quote taken from The Green Man by Jane Gardam and Mary Fedden. A book which has been passed through the artists family to her own children.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

This is a painting of Shelley’s Wood in West Sussex. The ground was frozen, but moss and lichen could be seen clinging to the trees. This canvas was created from dress fabric and floral upholstery fabric. The use of fabric showing behind the trees is interesting as our perception of nature is regimented and floral were as the reality is often stark and wild like the winter trees.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

This painting was from a mid-summer walk with sunshine streaming through the tall pine trees in Buckinghamshire.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

This painting is taken from a walk-through Shelley’s Wood in West Sussex. The bluebells were in full bloom and they created a carpet of flowers underfoot. The fabric can be seen on the side of the canvas. Sarah was experimenting with fluid and expressive brush marks. Using harmony colours to create a calming yet intriguing scene.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

This is from a hedonistic summer walk through hazy sunshine and long grasses at Petworth House. The gardens and park have a long-varied history for example they were designed by Capability Brown. The fabric is from the artists nursery curtains from 1970 and family curtains from 2000. The fabric is more dominate and the painting slips into areas of abstraction. The title of this piece comes from a Robin Hood Ballard.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

This bluebell wood painting is interesting as the texture and embroidery of the fabric can be seen coming through the painting.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

I was inspired by the poem “Disenchanted” by Louis Untermeyer about a fairy forest. This was from a walk through Mottistone Gardens in the Isle of Wight.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

This is from a hedonistic summer walk through hazy sunshine and long grasses at Petworth House. The gardens and park have a long-varied history for example they were designed by Capability Brown. The fabric is from prom dress fabric from 2020, patchwork fabric from 1980s, and family curtains from 2000. The fabric is more dominate and the painting slips into areas of abstraction.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

Deep in winter the wood seems bleak and bare, but the light on moss and lichens creates a rich tapestry of burgundies and lime greens.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

This scene pictures an early winter walk through the trees at Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey. The air was crisp and there was a strong bright white light. The image is highly representational but you can see the fabric on the side of the canvas and the texture through the paint.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

The title is taken from “Leaves” by Derek Mahon which talks about the Autumn leaves as a metaphor for the lives we might have led.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

Bluebells burst through in a Sussex wood.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

Blackthorn bushes line the entrance to a Sussex wood.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

38.5 by 56cm

The bluebells woods are an important symbol of rejuvenation and hope in my work particularly in 2020.

Recycled upholstery fabric, oil and household paints.

28.5 by 38.5cm

Summer walk through the stunning Sissinghurst Castle woodland.