Sarah Bowden - Ifield

I have painted as long as I can remember, soaking in all that I observed around and within me. My favourite place as a child was the pond, observing the tiniest of life forms quietly alone. It is no surprise that I became also a gardener, as a garden is a living, ever-changing, painting.

My work is predominantly about my observations in nature and also urban areas. I like to employ different styles and applications of a variety of media. Just as the green wood worker looks to the natural form of the wood to inform the piece, I too change my approach to my work with each subject and my interpretation. I love how creativity is ephemeral and changes in its production from day to day. We as humans are not fixed and immovable in the mind, or in our responses to life and its never ending fluidity. The only constant is change after all. 

I have been lucky in having been exposed to different facets of life and its people; sometimes the journey is hard and incredibly challenging, but always food for growth if viewed in a positive light. I feel life is about experiencing, which means sometimes not being in the comfort zone - this is where 'growth' is at its most intense.

I currently live in Hampshire, having also lived in many parts of UK and Spain and time in France, and Finland.
I like to explore creative media as a vehicle for ideas and also produce papier maché pieces, video, graphic and web design, sculpture, natural media art, eco building, creative gardening, performance art, and creative writing. Here is just a small selection of my work over the years, as unfortunately much has been stolen. This was heartbreaking, but I think to myself - they came from my hands and so will many more, plus it’s a sign that someone liked them enough to want to have them by hook or by crook :) 

Exhibitions:

Finland - group art show - 1995
Portswood Junior School Mural - 1996
'Knowledge' Group show, Southampton - 1996
Millais Gallery Southampton - 1998
The Guildhall Gallery, Winchester - 1999

MIllbrook Community School, Southampton - Public mural- 1999
CD Rom NHS Commission - 1999
Benissa concurso des artes - Group show - 2009
Denia, Spain - Group show - 2009
Moriara, Spain - Private mural -2010
Girasol Artes, Lliria, Spain - 2012

Work placements:

Harrow Youth Services, workshop co-ordinator
'Trees for Cities', Newham, London - Charity workshop co-ordinator
Applemore College - Art and computer design course tutor
Southampton Institute - BA Animation cover tutor.

Education:

St. Albans Art College
Southampton Institute 

Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Lahden ammattikorkeakoulu. Finland