Sarah's Story
Art has been my passion since I was a child, always pulling me into new adventures and challenging me to stretch myself.
I’m self taught with no formal training, unfortunately due to a lack of confidence and unhelpful teachers stifling my enthusiasm when I was younger, I felt I had no talent for art. It took me a good few years, always holding on to a love for creating, enjoying looking around art galleries, and a kindhearted nudge from a loved one to realise art is me.
Slowly, my confidence grew, and now it's my way of expressing myself when I struggle to find words, it's my meditation and my outlet. Art is extremely personal and unique and fills my heart with joy, whether it's spending hours on a piece or spending time drawing with my sons.
Looking back at my old sketches, I think my favorite moments were with a pencil in my hand. Pastel, graphite, and charcoal just flow for me, bringing out my best work. Every now and then, I dabble with paint, but my heart belongs to pencil.
That love has guided me toward realism, where I get a thrill from making things look lifelike with a raw, honest edge.
Since welcoming my two boys, I’ve started exploring illustration, sketching little characters for them to enjoy and sparking their own love for art. Mission accomplished, as one’s hooked on sculptures and drawing while the other’s all about painting.
I pour my heart and soul into every piece, and I hope you can feel that warmth as you wander through my art.
Rachel's Story
Art and crafts are my sanctuary, my creative outlet, where I find comfort and peace. It has been since I was young, where I enjoyed making pictures for my family, one floral watercolour painting proudly hanging on my grandmas wall for many years.
Like my sister Sarah, I'm self taught with no formal training. Growing up, I always felt my skills weren't good enough to pursue art as a career, so I went down a different path, with the pull of art and crafting never fading. After a break for a few years due to life getting in the way, I found myself reading art books, slowly dabbling with painting here and there.
The birth of my nephews was a turning point for me becoming immersed in the creative world. I began making cards for their birthdays with little characters on them, taking them round art galleries and helping them to develop their skills in an outlet that has brought me so much happiness.
Art helps me to escape, enables me to remain present in the moment and be peaceful when times are hard. It feels exciting and like magic to me, the way a picture forms from nothing on a page. The reaction from my nephews when we make something together is priceless.
I find watercolour is a beautiful way of expressing myself. The way it flows from the brush onto the page feels so natural to me. I am inspired by nature and enjoy experimenting with different shapes, colours and mediums to see where the mood takes me.
Through my art, I aim to share the warmth and wonder I feel, inviting you to experience that same joy as you explore the gallery.
