The Artist

At school, Dumfries Academy, I loved art but I also, weirdly, enjoyed maths and physics, so at 17 I went with my head and chose a career path into engineering.

I studied in the city of Edinburgh and achieved an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic engineering, before moving to London to start a 16-year career in NATS.

Returning to Scotland I helped deliver a new air traffic control centre and this success heralded my first career change establishing an event management company Sarah’s Creative Occasions.

I joined the Robinwood Art School in Alloway in 2016 where I learnt colour theory, a variety of mixed media techniques and fell in love with the movement of water mixable oil paint.

2021 was the right time for career change number two and the opportunity to fulfil my passion full-time with Sarah Louise Artist.

In 2024 I launched Wigtownshire Artists & Makers, a group of professional practising, retired and rising artists and makers across Wigtownshire who learn, encourage, share and inspire each other.

I am a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Engineering and Technology and also a professional member of the following creative organisations:

• Dumfries and Galloway Fine Arts Society
• Scottish Artists Union
• Sea Pyot Arts
• Upland CIC visual art and craft development organisation
• Wigtownshire Artists & Makers

I live with my husband and miniature Dachshund in a stone cottage in Wigtownshire, just one mile beyond the historic Torhouse Stone Circle.

When I am not painting I can be found pottering in the garden, walking, practicing yoga or packing bags for our next adventure.

ARTIST STATEMENT

In all seasons I love walking, observing the natural colours changing and snapping photos of the moment on my mobile.  South-west Scotland is surrounded by a rugged coastline dotted with lighthouses and castles, bathed in dramatic northern light.  I generally work from photos which is more practical living in Wigtownshire and it allows me to work creatively in the comfort of my garden room studio.  Although I often use my own pictures I also like to challenge myself painting landscapes from alternative angles and seek permission from local professional photographers to use their drone images from above.

On canvas boards I apply a coloured acrylic to sketch over my composition.  I work top-down  always starting with the sky.  My go-to tool is a flat headed brush to create the layered horizontals of the clouds, land and sea. I enjoy spending time mixing the right colour palette so that when I’m ready to add the paint to the canvas I can work quickly.  Purple is my best friend as it creates a great dark tone without the need for any black in my paintings.  Very much unique to me is my ability to maintain the cleanest working studio.